KAITEKI Fresh Australia to establish new state-of-the-art hydroponics facility in Bunyip

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Image credit: flickr User: Frank Fox

KAITEKI Fresh Australia will build a ground-breaking greenhouse facility for the production of leafy green vegetables in Bunyip, Victoria.

Image credit: flickr User: Frank Fox
Image credit: flickr User: Frank Fox

KAITEKI Fresh Australia was established in Australia by Mitsubishi Plastic Inc. (MPI) in collaboration with The KAITEKI Institute, a global research institute focused on meeting 21st century challenges in energy, the environment and healthcare.

According to the media release by the Premier of Victoria, the new multi-million dollar hydroponics facility will create 40 new jobs and provide a boost for Victoria’s food production industry.

The KAITEKI Fresh Australia facility was announced yesterday by Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Peter Ryan at the Department of Environment and Primary Industries Knoxfield facility in Melbourne’s east.

“This investment is great news for Bunyip, Gippsland and Victoria more broadly. It confirms Victoria’s reputation as a world leader in the production of clean, safe and high quality horticultural products. To have a major agricultural company such as this willing to make a significant investment here in Victoria shows the potential for the agricultural sector to be a mainstay of the Victorian economy over the next century and beyond,” the Minister said.

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“This ground breaking new facility will be the first of its type outside of Asia, enabling 20 harvests of green leafy vegetables per year, in comparison with four using traditional soil methods. This is truly a remarkable achievement and one the company should be extremely proud of.”

KAITEKI Fresh Australia Chief Executive Officer Katsutoshi Ogihara said his company was proud of the investment.

“We will endeavour to start the delivery of the safe and trusted ‘Grown in Victoria’ leafy vegetables as soon as possible, grown without pesticide using our advanced production system,” Mr Ogihara said.

“This could potentially revolutionise the way the horticulture industry cultivates vegetables and will contribute to the Victorian Coalition Government’s goal of doubling food and fibre production by 2030,” said Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh.