every 10 minutes. In 2013,Ofallthethingsyoumightbeexpectingtofindinthedesert,300kmnorthofAdelaide,
atomatofarmisprobablyfairlylowonthelist.ButSundropFarmsisnoordinaryfarm.Infact,
the20-hectarefacilitylooksmorelikeafuturisticspacestationthananythingresembling
atraditionalagriculturaloperation.Usingafieldof23,000mirrors,itcanproducesome39MW
ofenergy,usedtopumpanddesalinatewaterfromtheSpencerGulf5kmaway,aswellasheat
and power its sustainable greenhouse facility, and produce upwards of 15,000 tonnes of truss
tomatoeseveryyear.Bygrowingcropshydroponically,SundropFarmsisnotonlyamore
sustainablealternativetoregularfarmingpractices,butisalsomoreproductive,sinceit
canharvestproduceallyearround.Andwithadditionalfacilitiesplanned,it’sproofthat
eventheoldestindustrieshaveroomforinnovation.SUNDROP FARMS
PRODUCE AROUND
15 PER CENT OF
AUSTRALIA’S TOMATOES.WORDS: JAKE MILLAR.
AUGUST 2018 GQ.COM.AU 109