“We were proud to open this advanced facility with a training session that brought growers together to explore new ideas and techniques, we see this as the first of many opportunities to support practical learning and innovation in the sector.”
— Folco Faber | GM Australia
Built for better growing
If we want to improve protected cropping in Australia, we need a real working environment to be able to test theories and innovations, trial new systems, tech and crop types, and a way to demonstrate this to the industry.
That’s why we built our facility in Virginia, South Australia, delivered as part of the Hort Frontiers Growing Horticulture Through Protected Cropping Innovation project (AS23001), bringing industry-led research and hands-on learning together in a real-world setting.
The $2 million project was built around a 1000m² commercial-scale greenhouse, designed to trial, test, and demonstrate ideas in a real production setting – not just in theory. The focus is to give back to the industry and help move protected cropping and food production in Australia forward.
The facility is run by a small but dedicated team of two full-time and two part-time staff who keep everything moving, from trials and training to industry events and day-to-day crop management.
We have an open-door policy, and we’re proud of it. Whether you’re a grower, researcher, supplier, student, or just interested to know how modern greenhouses actually work, the facility has been established to be visited, used, and shared as a place where the industry can connect, collaborate, learn, and improve.
Benefits to the broader industry
The facility has been purpose-built to directly benefit the broader horticultural and agricultural industry. It provides a space to share knowledge, improve grower yield capabilities, and test innovations in systems, technology and crop types.
Driving greenhouse innovation without the investment risk
Traditionally, if an Australian grower wanted to trial new greenhouse tech, a different crop variety, irrigation system or climate control system, they’d have to invest on their own farm and hope for the best.
Our open-door policy gives these growers direct access to the facility and the research taking place within it. Visitors can see trials progressing, learn about different crop types, compare greenhouse technologies, and gain practical insights from real-world testing.
The aim is to create a space where knowledge can be shared, where growers can learn and ask questions before making significant decisions around their own investment.
Accelerating greenhouse technology adoptions
The facility provides industry and tech suppliers with a dedicated space to test, refine and demonstrate new technologies and systems under the harsh Australian conditions which can occur at Virginia.
From climate control, lighting and irrigation systems to automation and AI-assisted growing technology, suppliers can showcase innovations to growers while also gathering valuable performance data.
This helps accelerate the adoption of tried and tested technologies and systems across the broader industry.
Bridging industry research with commercial production
The facility aims to improve protected cropping in Australia by testing ideas in the real world and turning them into practical outcomes that directly benefit the food and agriculture industry.
Our next phase will be testing leafy greens in different LED lighting environments to improve quality and yield quantities.
Trials such as these act as the bridge between research facilitators, suppliers, and commercial growers, helping new ideas move into real world production.
Building a better future for protected cropping
Australia faces some of the harshest weather conditions in the world, and unfortunately many crops are still largely field-grown.
This means when major weather events happen, such as floods, supply can be impacted almost overnight. While demand is still there, less product is available, and prices quickly spike for consumers.
With increasing uncertainty around our climate, there is increasing pressure on Australian growers to produce-high quality crops year-round. The next logical step is to move toward protected cropping, which offers a much more resilient and cost-effective future for food production.
On-site approach to training
The facility can support almost any type of industry training and demonstrations. Designed specifically as a research and training greenhouse, it gives growers, managers, and staff the opportunity to interact with and learn from real production systems in a working greenhouse environment.
The facility takes an industry-led approach rather than an academic one. Working alongside partners such as Plant Empowerment and Priva, growers can attend half-day and full-day training sessions held regularly throughout the year and delivered by industry experts.
These sessions are best suited to those with prior exposure to protected cropping and focus on helping growers better understand and interpret data so they can make more informed growing decisions.
Training covers a range of topics, including climate data interpretation, sensor readings, crop responses, irrigation data, environmental monitoring, and AI-assisted growing systems.
Interested in hosting an event or partnering with us?
We’re always interested in working with industry partners to deliver training, workshops, demonstrations, and collaborative projects.
The facility offers a unique opportunity to connect with growers and other industry professionals in a working large-scale greenhouse, making it an ideal setting for sharing knowledge, showcasing innovations, and supporting industry development.
If you have an idea for a training session, product demonstration, research project, or industry event, we would love to hear from you. You can submit an enquiry on our contact page or call us on 1800 132 237.
Australia
T: 1800 132 237
E: sales@apexgreenhouses.com.au
Address
10 Gawler Road, Virginia, South Australia 5120
Postal Address
PO Box 688, Virginia, South Australia 5120
New Zealand
T: 0800 100 618
E: sales@apexgreenhouses.co.nz
Address
6 Hosking Place, Waiuku, Auckland 2123
Postal Address
PO Box 36, Waiuku, Auckland 2341
