This short project, which ran from 2020 to 2021, examined a range of high technology systems and assessed their applicability to urban Australia by considering factors such as regulation and planning, farm input and waste, and supply chain logistics. The project team provided recommendations on how the Australian horticulture industry can realise opportunities surrounding high technology horticulture production in urban environments and build the capacity of this sector.

To assess the feasibility of high technology urban horticulture, the project team:

• Reviewed current literature on the topic (from both domestic and international sources)
• Modelled potential systems and their applicability in Australia
• Conducted an economic analysis of systems and assessed how changes to cost and revenue impact profitability
• Consulted with industry stakeholders to inform the modelling and economic analysis.

The feasibility study identified several areas where further work is required to enable the use of high technology urban horticulture in Australia across a number of areas such as economic, planning and government support, environment, and social.

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the research and development levies listed below and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

• Onion Fund
• Potato – Fresh Fund
• Potato – Processing Fund
• Vegetable Fund