Sundrop Farms

In reply to the Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN (10 March 2016).

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy): The Minister for Investment and Trade has provided the following advice:

Sundrop Farms is a developer, owner and operator of high technology greenhouse facilities that produce high-value crops. Sundrop Farms’ advanced technology allows the business to operate food production facilities in non-traditional locations that have little or no access to arable land or fresh water sources.

Sundrop Farms’ first commercial scale facility is currently being commissioned in Port Augusta. The 20-hectare facility represents a scale of up to 100 times the pilot facility, which has been operating for five years adjacent to the new site. The Department of State Development has provided a $50,000 grant to support a pilot skills development project for Sundrop Farms, supporting the company to offer tailored training for the first intake of new Sundrop employees.

Sundrop Farms currently employs approximately 105 full time equivalent staff at the new Port Augusta facility. The company’s recruitment and training program continues, with the aim of increasing the total number of employees in the Port Augusta region to 150 within the next 12 months.