Victorian SmartFarms at Tatura and Mildura
The Tatura SmartFarm in the Goulburn Valley is Australia’s leading horticulture SmartFarm research facility effectively linked to the Mildura SmartFarm, enabling research and innovation to deliver high-quality fruit from orchard to export market. They develop, use and demonstrate new applications of agricultural technology to achieve increases in marketable yield, product value and production efficiency in pears, apples, stonefruit and almonds. They also evaluate:
- novel integrated pest and disease management strategies
- high-density almond production
- new rootstocks and cultivars
- new irrigation and sensor technology
On this page:
- Sundial and experimental orchards
- Using proximal and spatial imagery
- Fruit quality
- Biosecurity and integrated pest and disease management
- Research to support enduring profitability with Climate change
Events:
- 2nd International Symposium on Precision Management of Orchards and Vineyards (December 2023)
- Future-proofing horticulture in a changing climate (Goulburn Valley 2023)
- XI International Symposium on Irrigation of Horticulture Crops (January 2026)
Leading edge research capability at these SmartFarms
Sundial and experimental orchards
Based at the Tatura SmartFarm is the world’s first Sundial multi-directional experimental orchard, which is highly sensorised and includes orchard design and training systems for stonefruit and pomefruit.
Sundial orchard at the Tatura SmartFarm, February 2021
The Orchard trees Application Programming Interface (API) services to exchange research measurement information. The Orchard trees API provides a new way to view and update tree measurements for research that improves marketable yield and resource use in perennial horticulture.
Using proximal and spatial imagery
Drones used on our SmartFarms are equipped with high-resolution RGB or multi-spectral cameras and LIDAR sensors. Agriculture Victoria Research scientists use the drones to map orchard information to optimise agriculture operations.
Novel uses of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) within the row of trees are used to identify tree and fruit growth patterns to support the production of high-quality fruit suitable for the Asian export market.
Integration of geospatial technologies and remote sensing platforms, integrated with the Orchard trees API, are used to capture experimental data and record research observations SmartFarm
Fruit quality
‘Blush pears’ taken at Minister Thomas’ Pear’s to Parliament launch on 2nd March 2021
Experimental pear and stonefruit orchards test new rootstock and cultivars which, combined with the Sundial orchard, enable new understandings on how orchard design impacts production efficiencies, labour efficiencies, resilience to extreme climatic events, and yield and quality of fruit.
A Fruit Analytics facility that enables individual fruit from the experimental orchard to be measured for quality attributes including colour, size and maturity
A Fruit Export Dynamics facility that focuses on smart fruit management to maintain fruit quality through the supply chain. Research to support exporters achieve 2-3x increase (on their domestic price per box) quality of Australian summer fruits to China. This could be worth $70-80 million within 5-10 years.
Biosecurity and integrated pest and disease management
An insect-rearing facility to support integrated pest management outcomes. Research in the application of novel integrated pest and disease management strategies.
Photo of Carob moth biosecurity samples taken from the Mildura SmartFarm
Research to support enduring profitability with Climate change
Recent media reports have estimated that $1 billion has been wiped from the value of Australia's annual crop production due to the change in climate over the past two decades. Scientific research carried out at the Tatura and Mildura SmartFarm will ensure Victoria can offer regional employment opportunities to support enduring profitability in the Horticulture sector.
Horticulture Solar Energy Project
For more information about the Horticulture Solar Energy Project