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Nuffield Scholar Keshav Timalsena studies semi-closed greenhouse production

Australian vegetable growers can achieve greater productivity, increased energy efficiency and reduced pest pressure through the use of semi-closed greenhouse (SCG) technology, according to Nuffield Scholar, Keshav Timalsena.

A 2014 Scholarship winner supported by Woolworths, Mr Timalsena researched the commercial viability of cutting edge SCG technology by visiting leading greenhouse producers in Canada, the USA, Mexico, Brazil, Europe and New Zealand.

“Successful European growers use SCG to achieve a greater level of climate control, increasing energy efficiency while retaining more beneficial carbon dioxide (CO2) and excluding external pest and disease vectors,” Mr Timalsena said.

Based in Armidale, NSW, Mr Timalsena is a senior grower manager for the hydroponic tomato producer, Costa Group, which has 30 hectares of production under glass and supplies major supermarket chains. The company produces more than 12.6 million kilos of high-quality vine ripened tomatoes including large truss, cocktail and snacking tomatoes annually.

Adoption of hydroponic greenhouse technology has rapidly increased in Australia in the past five years and is seen as a model of high volume efficient production, producing up to nine times more than the conventional field grower with only 20% of the water.

Having worked in the hydroponic industry for 21 years, Mr Timalsena said mainstream greenhouses cannot be improved any further.

Read more at GetFarming
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