We are featured in Hortidaily again!

The National Precision Growing Centre; 

Australia: eGlasshouse system trains students to monitor crop growth and environment, online

The $1.2 million Controlled Environment Horticultural Training unit at Chisholm Institute of TAFE, Cranbourne is a world class facility and the only one of its kind in Australia and the Southern hemisphere. Now known as The National Precision Growing Centre, the CEH training unit is designed to deliver industry training locally, nationally and globally. 

The crops that are produced in the greenhouse are used as industry based trials, and ultimately are marketed through wholesale outlets. Some of the product is also put to use in the Chisholm Hospitality department’s training kitchens, giving CEH students the opportunity to track produce from point of growing to final consumption.

The state-of-the-art technology for the training facility was supplied by Powerplants and AIS Greenworks. On top of that Priva, a key supplier of Powerplants, has entered into a training agreement with Chisholm to support the sustainability of the technology within the facility.

As Chisholm Horticulture teacher Tony Bundock said: “By using the latest equipment from the world’s leading suppliers of horticulture technology, we’ve created a facility that will give students the opportunity to develop cutting edge skills and will also act as a flagship for the controlled environment horticulture industry in Australia”.

Very recently Chisholm, in cooperation with Powerplants, set up eGlasshouse system which allows students to monitor the crop growth and the greenhouse environment online. With the eGlasshouse students can also complete the theoretical part of their training from wherever they want.

The facility is also used as a showcase for the newest CEH techniques and technology. In a normal week, there are around three visits from student groups and from other training institutions, plus visits of growers and community groups. Encouragement of these visits are vitally important to the industry since the young people can see the whole range of careers they can pursue in the field, which could have a positive effect on the industry.

For more information about courses and programs contact Chisholm on 1300 244 746,enquiries@chisholm.edu.au or visit www.chisholm.edu.au/glasshouse. 

For any enquiries about horticultural issues, please contact Powerplants +61 (0)3 8795 7750, sales@powerplants.com.au or visit www.powerplants.com.au.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=z-BD7wd8l0M

Publication date: 7/3/2013