" The farm has grown from a self - fund farming project to a image farming theoretical account which is presently competing straightaway with nursery rather than traditional upright farm . We ’re not a vertical farm , we ’re a farm . Our customers do n’t care how we grow ; they care about character , consistency , and price , " allege Ty Dickson , Co - founder of April Sun Farms .
Darren Nichol and Ty Dickson
carbon monoxide - founded by Ty Dickson and Darren Nichol , established its erect farm in Melbourne in 2019 . ego - funding their fellowship inspire the founders ' approach to solving problems . " The simplest answer is often the good , " aver Darren . ground on their backgrounds in construction , electronics , and the fresh produce markets , the founders designed and build their farm systems in - business firm . " For us , it ’s always been about survival and selling mathematical product , " adds Ty . " That ’s why we ’re not just a perpendicular farm , we ’re something more , innovation often comes from necessity . "
" When building a minimal CapEx , mellow functioning prototype , the result is often a less esthetically pleasing development , compare to something in its last form . " Ty continues , " But to us , this is what husbandry appear like . Our system of rules crop , we ’re producing efficiently , and our client are well-chosen . These foundational pillar are what weigh . "
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' POC is there , expanding upon here we come’From the start , Ty and Darren keep on busy assert a down in the mouth investment by building their farm , from stand to technique , bespoke hort - light , through to software package . The current farm is 330 satisfying meters , holding six to nine layers , and serves as a large - scale prototype . " We ’re blow up to 1,000 straight meters and planning a bigger farm that exceeds nine layer , " Ty explains .
" With two unlike system deployed in this farm , our first - generation system allowed us to grow beautiful product . However , our expansion will admit the upgraded system that has shown to increase craw concentration by 50 % while using 33 % less electricity in the same strong-arm space , " say Ty .
Despite the higher investing price , chef opt to have their garden truck bear in great deal so they can freshly cut it whenever they please
Continual and progressive exploitation of their kindling system has significantly meliorate energy efficiency , from 96 James Watt per square meter to just 47 watts per square meter , while deliver more than 250 micromoles per m2 at the substrate level .
Using a mixing of coir and perlite as substrate , adjusted for specific harvest , the farm raise 24 crop smorgasbord , including leafy greens , edible peak , and 12 Lycopersicon esculentum diversity . In instance where the media is continue through freshly cut garden truck products , the team reuses the medium , repurposing it for landscape gardening diligence .
April Sun Farms operate on primarily as a pre - wholesaler , selling produce below market toll to maintain fight and ensure crop sales . " We ’ve structured our commercial enterprise to be effective , so we can compete directly with outside farms . If we supply the best - in - class product , at the most competitive price points , there is little sensation in secure from other farms , " says Darren . During the COVID-19 period , this strategy helped them remain workable by focusing on pricing and timber . The farm ’s produce is sold through agent who dole out to wholesale markets , though unmediated - to - consumer sale are a foresightful - terminus goal .
The produce ready to be mail out
Low - cost production makes greenhouses the independent competitorUnlike many perpendicular farm , April Sun Farms sees its competitor as greenhouse operations rather than traditional playing field husbandry . Australian greenhouse operators have faced challenges , like the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus ( ToBRFV ) , which wipe out some of the big operations .
Their system desegregate biologic pest control , energy - efficient lighting ( 4.04 micromoles per watt second include power supplies ) , and efficient free energy employment ( 66 cents per kilo compare to 97 cent for local greenhouses acquire small leafy common ) . With electrical energy price as lowly as 23 cents per kWh , April Sun Farms has been capable to deploy depressed OpEx in the retiring years , which serve them ' lucky in this vault - rich market ' . Yet , it made the founders realize that the ultimate finish is to grow scalable technology that can compete internationally . " If we ca n’t scale across borders , we wo n’t achieve what we ’re aiming for . "
In the long run , we aim to produce a system that can compete with greenhouses , both in Australia and beyond , " explains Darren .
For more information : April Sun FarmsTy Dickson , Co - founderDarren Nichol , Co - founder[email protected]https://aprilsunfarms.com.au
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