By Paulette Baumgartl, Applied Horticultural Research

The Australian horticulture industry is taking a transformative leap toward automation, addressing critical workforce challenges with a $52 million initiative that promises to significantly improve
productivity. This ambitious Hort Frontiers program, driven by industry leaders and managed by Applied Horticultural Research (AHR), aims to integrate cutting-edge technologies for pollination, spraying, harvesting, and packing – potentially reducing labour demands by as much as 90 percent.

Industry-driven solutions for sustainability and growth

At the heart of this initiative is a strong commitment to sustainability, agronomy, automation, energy efficiency, and workforce development. Hort Innovation Chief Executive Brett Fifield emphasised the program’s industry-led design.

“With more than $20 million invested directly from growers, this initiative has immense potential to advance the protected cropping sector in Australia,” Mr Fifield said.

“By embracing automation and technological advancements, growers can achieve greater sustainability, improve crop quality, and enhance profitability, paving the way for a more efficient and competitive future.”

The program’s impact is already evident among key industry players. Chris Millis, Chief Operating Officer of Flavorite Group, highlighted the potential of robotics to revolutionise operations.

“New technology will allow for the effective management of labour, enabling the redeployment of people to business-building activities previously constrained by resource availability,” Mr Millis explained, citing striking examples of potential savings, including in pollination and packing.

Program leader Dr Gordon Rogers (AHR) consulted widely with the industry when developing the program’s framework to ensure its relevance.

“The program has been designed with growers for growers”, Dr Rogers said.

“Through this extensive consultation process, we know what the industry needs, where the research and technology challenges lie, and who is best placed to meet those challenges.”

New training facility

A critical component of the program is skill development for operating high-tech greenhouses. Apex Greenhouses’ state-of-the-art 1,000m2 research and training facility in Virginia, South Australia, will serve as the hub for this effort.

Workshops at Apex will focus on practical training for high-tech greenhouse operations and advanced crop management techniques. The facility will feature and research leading AI tools, the outcomes of which will be published to enable the industry to benefit from these findings.

Topics include balancing plant physiology and greenhouse physics, data analysis, and strategies for optimising irrigation and nutrition.

Folco Faber, CEO of Apex Greenhouses, says that the facility is unique among other research and training organisations in Australia in that growers will be actively encouraged to visit the facility.

“We will welcome industry participants to come see what we are working on and what is possible at the cutting edge of new systems and research in the most modern of greenhouse technology,” Mr Faber said.

He adds: “This endeavour represents a significant financial investment for us, made possible thanks to the invaluable support from Hort Innovation.”

Apex is working with supply partners including Stolze, Irribiz, Priva and several others to provide the world leading technology.

The intention is to commission the facility in time for the Protected Cropping Australia conference in Adelaide in July 2025. The project team is also exploring the opportunity to feature the Apex greenhouse as part of a conference farm tour, along with a one-day training session following the event. To maximise the impact and relevance of the workshops, and understand growers’ priorities, the project is seeking input from growers to tailor the sessions to their specific needs.