Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford has officially opened Australia’s first hydroponic growing facility that produces up to eight times more marketable, high nutrient spinach than conventional methods by using a revolutionary new Japanese growing technology.
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by koko-tewan
The new KAITEKI Fresh facility in Bunyip, Victoria – the product of a five-year collaboration between the Victorian Government, global chemical company Mitsubishi Plastics Inc. and the KAITEKI Institute – will generate 40 full time jobs and give Victorian growers the opportunity to maximise the quality and health value of their produce.
The environmentally friendly technology, which uses less water and no pesticides, has the potential to revolutionise the way the industry cultivates leafy vegetables by allowing the production of 18 or more harvests of top quality spinach a year, all year round.
Ms Jaala Pulford congratulated CEO of KAITEKI Fresh, Mr Katsutoshi Ogihara, on the launch of the company’s new operations and welcomed the investment in Victoria’s agriculture sector.
“Securing KAITEKI’s new operations confirms our reputation as a global leader in food production and as a state ready to attract and accept investment from across our region,” the Minister said.
She said the new technology presented a huge opportunity for Victoria’s growers to replicate the increased yields on a much larger scale and to further increase the State’s horticultural exports which are already accounting for more than half of Australia’s total horticultural exports.
“This state-of-the art hydroponic facility is a potential game changer for our local growers and exporters. Our horticulture sector has a bright future – that’s why we’re supporting it to innovate and create jobs,” the Minister said.
Mr Ogihara said the closed hydroponic system uses a fraction of the water normally used in modern irrigation and allows the grower to accurately control temperature, as well as water and nutrient use, to produce high quality spinach while preventing pest infestations within a consistent ideal climate.
He said KAITEKI Fresh was established to accelerate the promotion of pesticide free leafy vegetables grown by the state-of-the-art, water-saving hydroponic technology.
“Recently, people are becoming more aware of healthier food and where it is derived from in the world, and are seeking environmentally friendly, high quality, safe and secure vegetables,” Mr Ogihara added.
“I am very confident that we will continue to contribute to the growth of the Victorian agriculture and food sector into the future.”
