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Our Facility
Australia's first National Vegetable Protected Cropping Centre (NVPCC) opened in November 2017, thanks to a multi-million dollar joint initiative between Hort Innovation and Western Sydney University. The Centre aims to produce the next generation of horticulture experts, and help the nation’s fresh vegetable growers tap into the very best research and the latest practices in protected cropping.
The Glasshouse is the centrepiece of the NVPCC, located at Western's Hawkesbury campus. The Hawkesbury campus is located on the peri-urban fringe of Sydney – perfectly placed for conducting research and education to help drive Australia’s future horticulture productivity. The Glasshouse and National Vegetable Protected Cropping Centre cement the University’s reputation as a national leader in horticulture research and education, and continues our proud history of agriculture research and teaching at Hawkesbury.
The striking 1762 m2 Glasshouse comprises eight precision temperature-controlled research bays and one large-scale teaching bay, and uses cutting-edge climate and irrigation control technology. Features include diffuse glass and smart glass coatings that adjust the spectrum, direction and intensity of light, helping researchers to produce the highest possible commercial yields with minimal energy and labour inputs. A completely soilless growing environment allows for maximising water use efficiencies without plant nutrition. The training of qualified, forward-thinking graduates is crucial to ensure that Australia has a bright future in the Agriculture sector. In collaboration with industry, the Greenhouse Research, Education and Training Facility provides a quality education program in the agriculture space.
Western has committed to refresh and renew the way in which it offers and promotes agriculture to provide a new, robust suite of agriculture and associated courses that offers students the opportunity to enter careers that meet global needs and student interest.
Whilst the research program generates new management practices and technologies, the training and education centre assists industry in building a future skilled workforce.
For more information on current projects, please see the National Vegetable Protected Cropping Centre.
Contact Us
Goran Lopaticki
Facility Manager
E: G.Lopaticki@westernsydney.edu.au
T: 02 4570 1944
M: 0423 730 129
