Apex Greenhouses
Training and research facilities, and AI tools
Lead partner: Apex Greenhouses
Projects
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Establish a 960m2 high-tech greenhouse research and training facility to support industry-led research, enabling evaluation of new growing techniques, technological innovations, crop genetics and production systems.
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Deliver high-tech, hands on training led by Australian and international experts, building essential capacity for Australia's protected cropping industry.
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Evaluate AI-based growing systems under Australian conditions, to optimise yield and quality.
Project progress
Research and training facility
Construction and commissioning of Apex Greenhouses’ 960 m² high-tech research and training facility in Virginia, SA is complete and the facility is now fully operational, with strawberries and tomatoes established across two climate-controlled compartments and trials underway to evaluate yield potential and varietal performance under advanced production conditions.
Industry engagement and training activities
The site was officially opened in July and has since hosted multiple training and engagement events, attracting strong interest from industry, research, and education stakeholders. These included the PCA Greenhouse Tour Open Day, the inaugural Plant Empowerment Training Workshop, the Graham Smith Greenhouse Technical Management Course, and visits from WorkSkil and Ironwood Institute, the Plants for Space / University of Adelaide team, and the University of Adelaide Masters in Global Food and Agribusiness cohort, along with several smaller technical group visits throughout the period.
Digital systems review and transition to operations
Work has also commenced on a review of current AI greenhouse growing systems, which will inform future piloting of digital decision-support tools within the facility. Collectively, these activities mark the transition from infrastructure development to active research, training delivery, and technology evaluation, establishing a national platform for knowledge exchange and capability building in high-tech protected cropping.
