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Australia: Sundrop looking to expand into new markets

The $200 million seawater- and sunshine-powered Sundrop Farms hydroponic venture, is looking at getting bigger.

The 12,000-tonne to 15,000t a year tomato farm in remote South Australia seems likely to be duplicated in other sites in Australia and overseas.

In October Sundrop officially opened its massive covered cropping operation – four seawater-cooled glasshouses each covering five hectares.

Next year it will launch its own Sundrop brand, highlighting the futuristic farm’s environmental credentials and competitively priced produce to Coles supermarket shoppers Australia-wide.

Expansion
Managing director Steve Marafiote told the recent Australian Farm Institute agriculture roundtable conference, Sundrop was looking at other sites in Australia and abroad and other crop options – glasshouse-suitable produce which potentially may range from cucumbers and capsicums to berries or lettuce.

“We would like to replicate what we’re doing at Port Augusta,” he said.

“The application of the technology may be different – we have nothing defined as yet, however it will always be about solving a supply problem for our partner, Coles.”

“We have ambitions, but we’re not at the point of saying exactly what the next step is.”

Read more at Queensland Country Life
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