investing in the region ’ s first vertical farm at the Link in Ginninderry as part of a sustainability hub . ( 11 )
Based on a production analysis undertaken by Perfection Fresh Australia , and supported by the NSW government , a 500-hectare agribusiness hub adjacent to the Western Sydney ’ s International ( Nancy Bird-Walton ) Airport could support 2,500 new direct and 12,000 indirect jobs and generate $ 2.8 billion in additional revenue over a 10-year period ”. ( 12 )
Blakthumb farm partner Sananbio
of extreme weather events and climate change . COVID has exposed the fragility of global supply chains and our reliance on complex food distribution systems .
Fourth , changing consumer trends are also having an impact on how we produce and what we produce and this includes growing demand for “ new foods ”, “ freefrom foods ”, superfoods and alternative proteins .
Consumers for many years have demanded cleaner and greener food and fibre ; they want to be assured that their food is produced ethically and many will pay a premium for produce that is grown sustainably .
CEA systems are flexible and cost effective to reconfigure . Supported by smart monitoring controls that can track , trace and record data in real time ; inputs such as light , heat and water can be adjusted to create ‘ perfect ’ growing conditions to suit a wide range of plants . This means that farmers can respond quickly to change and grow in-demand produce including highvalue foods and niche fruit & vegetables .
SO WHY SHOULD LOCAL COMMUNITIES TAKE NOTE OF CEA ? Because CEA delivers economic , social and environmental benefits ; key attributes of a circular economy .
CEA uses less water , minimal or no pesticides , maximises land use , and food can be grown all year round with less waste and spoilage .
Invertigro
That said , the industry is not without its detractors due to high energy costs associated with running LED lighting and heating however this issue is being addressed with investment in solar solutions and energy from waste ( EfW ) conversion facilities . EarthPower is the first organic waste treatment plant in Western Sydney and investment in EfW across Australia is rising .
Fun Fact : A “ 30 storey vertical farm needs 26 million kWh of electricity , but it can generate 56 million kWh through solar energy and biogas digesters .” ( 10 )
In addition to greater yields and productivity gains , the economic benefits of CEA include the creation of new jobs across the entire value chain . According to RDA ACT a high-tech farm could conservatively generate up to 3,000 jobs . The Riverview Group in partnership with Sydney based startup Invertigro are
High-tech farming promises to create a range of jobs for IT specialists , data analysts , technicians , communications and marketing experts and of course farmer managers .
In 2019 Bayside Council partnered with UTS and RDA Sydney to investigate the feasibility of establishing urban farming systems in and around Port Botany and Kingsford Smith Airport ; primarily to find a suitable and acceptable use of the LGAs disused industrial lands .
The research concluded that CEA , because of its scalability and modular configuration , was highly suited to the region and supported by local residents and businesses . The research also suggested that urban farming fostered mutually-beneficial relationships between governments , start-ups , agribusinesses , local SMEs and suppliers . ( 13 )
It was concluded that bringing food production and supply chains closer to consumers can stimulate local economies , encourage community engagement and in doing so nurture social capital .
WHAT CAN WE DO TO FAST-TRACK CAE IN AUSTRALIA ? First , raise awareness of CAE and the benefits of growing food closer to consumers .
Second , enable investment and venture capital to feed our entrepreneurs and start-up ecosystems and companies like Blakthumb , Invertgro , Farmwall & Phyllome .
Third , encourage more collaboration between industry and our R & D sector .
Now is not the time to withdraw funding and take support away from our university sector . Leading industry groups , Science & Technology Australia and the Australian
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