Nursery expansion for South Australia's potato industry
A State Government grant of $106,500 from the Riverland Sustainable Futures Fund was used to build a new nursery complex incorporating a tissue culture laboratory. The upgrading of facilities has provided a secure source of premium, disease-free early-generation plant material for the potato industry.
Solan director, Ken Morley said the company had employed two additional staff members, with a new nursery worker and a new specialist position in the tissue culture laboratory since project completion.
“As one of only seven accredited seed potato producers in Australia, this expansion has given us greater opportunities to improve efficiency, plant health and quality and to promote our premium product not only in South Australia, but nationally and internationally,” Mr Morley said.
Robbie Davis, CEO of Potatoes South Australia Incorporated, the peak industry body for the entire value chain, said “South Australia is the nation’s largest potato producer generating about $440 million in revenue each year to the state’s gross food revenue. The South Australian industry is renowned for its premium quality and this further investment at the start of the value chain will ensure that the industry continues to set the benchmark domestically and globally.”
“The seed sector is a critical link and currently South Australia produces about a third of the nation’s seed requirements,” she added.
This expansion is enabling the company to meet increasing demand for its product and is an example of the level of innovation, investment and entrepreneurialism in the South Australian industry.
For more information:
Robbie Davis
Tel: +61 (0)427 084 319
robbiedavis@potatoessa.com.au