The future of agriculture: The greenhouse is the size of three football fields and is planned to produce 4,000 tonnes of tomatoes per year
Winter coats are removed inside Tatura’s new multi-million dollar greenhouse. The temperature is 28 degrees Celsius and smells of 150,000 stems of tomato plants.
Key points:
- Greenhouse tomato grower expands operations in Tatura
- A 6-hectare greenhouse will create 60 new jobs
- The company has been financially supported by the Victorian government
The new six-hectare greenhouse will produce 4,000 tonnes of tomatoes per year and create 60 new jobs for the site.
Flavorite chief executive Mike Nichol said, due to high demand for the product, the company will expand in four Victoria locations.
“We have one here in Tatura, one in Katunga, Mansfield and our base in Warragul,” he said.
“Warragul is the biggest at the moment, but in Katunga we have room for another 30 hectares.
The company grows tomatoes, cucumbers and capsicum all year round.
Mr Nichols said the recent flooding in northern Australia highlighted the advantages of growing indoors.
“All those plants are at risk of being damaged during such an event,” he said.
“This infrastructure allows us to make sure it won’t happen to us. We can guarantee that the product on the vine can be delivered.”
Supported by state government
The company has received investments from the Victorian government’s Business Growth Fund and the Regional Jobs Fund.
The $250 million fund is managed by investment management firm ROC Partners and founded by pension funds Spirit Super and Aware Super.
“We’re effectively turning cash into a state asset whether it’s a loan or equity stake,” said Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas.
“This shows that we are the nation’s food bowl, and the only way we can maintain that reputation is through improving the efficient delivery of agriculture.”
Protected plantings vs field production
In Australia, protected planting is a growing industry as more and more farmers find it difficult to grow outside due to floods and bushfires.
Operations officer for Flavorite Chris Millis said while greenhouses were expensive to build, they had many advantages.
“We don’t have to move around, great for year-round work, the product uses less water, less chemicals. [and] fewer inputs.
“I think this is really the way of the future.
“Our main competitor is field production, but when you think about forest fires and floods, it’s not easy being a farmer on the outside.”
Tatura greenhouse is heated by burning natural gas with a hydronic heating system.
“Heating is our biggest expense,” Millis said.
“All we do is minimize the amount of heat we need.
“On the roof we have two lots of thermal screens that pop up at night and trap heat and we try and do as much as we can with the sun.
“When we have runoff, we catch it and reuse it.”
Greenhouse products have been led by countries like the Netherlands, which have invested heavily in technology to grow throughout the year.
Mr Millis said the technology has adapted to the Victorian climate, however, it is a growing industry worldwide.
“The Dutch are innovative, their greenhouses are designed for cold weather,” he said.
“We’ve adapted the technology to suit cold winters and warm summers and they’re doing the same in Canada, France, the US, Mexico. [and] Russia. They’re building greenhouses everywhere.”
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