• Latest
  • Trending
Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Sweet Potato Venture: A Step Towards Reducing WA’s Reliance on Eastern Imports

Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Sweet Potato Venture: A Step Towards Reducing WA’s Reliance on Eastern Imports

November 24, 2024
The 23rd Wolak Mountain Songgye Onion Festival: Celebrating Quality, Tradition, and Farmer Prosperity

The 23rd Wolak Mountain Songgye Onion Festival: Celebrating Quality, Tradition, and Farmer Prosperity

July 10, 2025
Russia’s Onion Market in 2025: Import Growth, Price Volatility, and Shifting Supply Dynamics

Russia’s Onion Market in 2025: Import Growth, Price Volatility, and Shifting Supply Dynamics

July 10, 2025
Empowering Farmers: How Yeongnam Vegetable Cooperative Aims to Stabilize Garlic and Onion Markets

Empowering Farmers: How Yeongnam Vegetable Cooperative Aims to Stabilize Garlic and Onion Markets

July 9, 2025
Onion Farming Revolution: How Mechanization Cuts Labor by 82% and Boosts Profitability

Onion Farming Revolution: How Mechanization Cuts Labor by 82% and Boosts Profitability

July 9, 2025
Processed Potato Market Boom: $62.2 Billion by 2032 – Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities for Agri-Professionals

Processed Potato Market Boom: $62.2 Billion by 2032 – Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities for Agri-Professionals

July 8, 2025
Iceberg Lettuce Market Update: Oversupply, Price Trends, and Seasonal Demand Shifts

Iceberg Lettuce Market Update: Oversupply, Price Trends, and Seasonal Demand Shifts

July 8, 2025
Spain’s Zucchini Trade Boom: Exports Up 46.6%, Imports Surge 79.8% – Key Insights for Agri-Professionals

Spain’s Zucchini Trade Boom: Exports Up 46.6%, Imports Surge 79.8% – Key Insights for Agri-Professionals

July 7, 2025
Excessive Pesticide Residues in Turkish Paprika: A Wake-Up Call for Global Agricultural Trade

Excessive Pesticide Residues in Turkish Paprika: A Wake-Up Call for Global Agricultural Trade

July 7, 2025
Onion Market Update Summer 2024: Price Declines, Seasonal Shifts, and Demand Trends

Onion Market Update Summer 2024: Price Declines, Seasonal Shifts, and Demand Trends

July 6, 2025
Carrot Market Trends Summer 2024: Demand, Pricing, and Harvest Strategies

Carrot Market Trends Summer 2024: Demand, Pricing, and Harvest Strategies

July 6, 2025
The Future of Farming: How Agri-Tech is Revolutionizing Agriculture and Attracting a New Generation

The Future of Farming: How Agri-Tech is Revolutionizing Agriculture and Attracting a New Generation

July 5, 2025
Drones in Agriculture: Revolutionizing Crop Treatment or Just a High-Tech Stopgap?

Drones in Agriculture: Revolutionizing Crop Treatment or Just a High-Tech Stopgap?

July 5, 2025
  • Company
Friday, July 11, 2025
Vegetables News
  • NEWS
    The 23rd Wolak Mountain Songgye Onion Festival: Celebrating Quality, Tradition, and Farmer Prosperity

    The 23rd Wolak Mountain Songgye Onion Festival: Celebrating Quality, Tradition, and Farmer Prosperity

    Russia’s Onion Market in 2025: Import Growth, Price Volatility, and Shifting Supply Dynamics

    Russia’s Onion Market in 2025: Import Growth, Price Volatility, and Shifting Supply Dynamics

    Empowering Farmers: How Yeongnam Vegetable Cooperative Aims to Stabilize Garlic and Onion Markets

    Empowering Farmers: How Yeongnam Vegetable Cooperative Aims to Stabilize Garlic and Onion Markets

    Onion Farming Revolution: How Mechanization Cuts Labor by 82% and Boosts Profitability

    Onion Farming Revolution: How Mechanization Cuts Labor by 82% and Boosts Profitability

    Processed Potato Market Boom: $62.2 Billion by 2032 – Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities for Agri-Professionals

    Processed Potato Market Boom: $62.2 Billion by 2032 – Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities for Agri-Professionals

    Iceberg Lettuce Market Update: Oversupply, Price Trends, and Seasonal Demand Shifts

    Iceberg Lettuce Market Update: Oversupply, Price Trends, and Seasonal Demand Shifts

    Spain’s Zucchini Trade Boom: Exports Up 46.6%, Imports Surge 79.8% – Key Insights for Agri-Professionals

    Spain’s Zucchini Trade Boom: Exports Up 46.6%, Imports Surge 79.8% – Key Insights for Agri-Professionals

    Excessive Pesticide Residues in Turkish Paprika: A Wake-Up Call for Global Agricultural Trade

    Excessive Pesticide Residues in Turkish Paprika: A Wake-Up Call for Global Agricultural Trade

    Onion Market Update Summer 2024: Price Declines, Seasonal Shifts, and Demand Trends

    Onion Market Update Summer 2024: Price Declines, Seasonal Shifts, and Demand Trends

  • AGROTECHNOLOGY
    • All
    • Climate
    • Crop protection
    • digital (smart)
    • dron
    • Fertilizer
    • Research
    • weed
    The Future of Farming: How Agri-Tech is Revolutionizing Agriculture and Attracting a New Generation

    The Future of Farming: How Agri-Tech is Revolutionizing Agriculture and Attracting a New Generation

    Drones in Agriculture: Revolutionizing Crop Treatment or Just a High-Tech Stopgap?

    Drones in Agriculture: Revolutionizing Crop Treatment or Just a High-Tech Stopgap?

    KFU Scientists Develop Smart Algorithm for Autonomous Tractors to Reduce Soil Compaction and Boost Efficiency

    KFU Scientists Develop Smart Algorithm for Autonomous Tractors to Reduce Soil Compaction and Boost Efficiency

    Smart Garden” in the Arctic: How a Yakutian School is Pioneering Year-Round Farming in Extreme Conditions

    Smart Garden” in the Arctic: How a Yakutian School is Pioneering Year-Round Farming in Extreme Conditions

    EU Tariffs on Russian and Belarusian Fertilizers: A Threat to European Agriculture?

    EU Tariffs on Russian and Belarusian Fertilizers: A Threat to European Agriculture?

    Novgorod Farmers Overcome Extreme Weather to Exceed Spring Sowing Targets by 6%

    Novgorod Farmers Overcome Extreme Weather to Exceed Spring Sowing Targets by 6%

    Agricultural Drones in Leningrad Region: High Costs and Legal Barriers Slow Adoption Despite Benefits

    Agricultural Drones in Leningrad Region: High Costs and Legal Barriers Slow Adoption Despite Benefits

    Agricultural Insurance on the Rise: How Climate Risks Are Reshaping Farming in Russia and Tatarstan

    Agricultural Insurance on the Rise: How Climate Risks Are Reshaping Farming in Russia and Tatarstan

    Digital Twins in Agriculture: How Virtual Farm Modeling Boosts Efficiency and Sustainability

    Digital Twins in Agriculture: How Virtual Farm Modeling Boosts Efficiency and Sustainability

  • IRRIGATION
  • SEED PRODUCTION
    • Vegetables
    • Fruit
  • PROCESSING
No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    The 23rd Wolak Mountain Songgye Onion Festival: Celebrating Quality, Tradition, and Farmer Prosperity

    The 23rd Wolak Mountain Songgye Onion Festival: Celebrating Quality, Tradition, and Farmer Prosperity

    Russia’s Onion Market in 2025: Import Growth, Price Volatility, and Shifting Supply Dynamics

    Russia’s Onion Market in 2025: Import Growth, Price Volatility, and Shifting Supply Dynamics

    Empowering Farmers: How Yeongnam Vegetable Cooperative Aims to Stabilize Garlic and Onion Markets

    Empowering Farmers: How Yeongnam Vegetable Cooperative Aims to Stabilize Garlic and Onion Markets

    Onion Farming Revolution: How Mechanization Cuts Labor by 82% and Boosts Profitability

    Onion Farming Revolution: How Mechanization Cuts Labor by 82% and Boosts Profitability

    Processed Potato Market Boom: $62.2 Billion by 2032 – Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities for Agri-Professionals

    Processed Potato Market Boom: $62.2 Billion by 2032 – Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities for Agri-Professionals

    Iceberg Lettuce Market Update: Oversupply, Price Trends, and Seasonal Demand Shifts

    Iceberg Lettuce Market Update: Oversupply, Price Trends, and Seasonal Demand Shifts

    Spain’s Zucchini Trade Boom: Exports Up 46.6%, Imports Surge 79.8% – Key Insights for Agri-Professionals

    Spain’s Zucchini Trade Boom: Exports Up 46.6%, Imports Surge 79.8% – Key Insights for Agri-Professionals

    Excessive Pesticide Residues in Turkish Paprika: A Wake-Up Call for Global Agricultural Trade

    Excessive Pesticide Residues in Turkish Paprika: A Wake-Up Call for Global Agricultural Trade

    Onion Market Update Summer 2024: Price Declines, Seasonal Shifts, and Demand Trends

    Onion Market Update Summer 2024: Price Declines, Seasonal Shifts, and Demand Trends

  • AGROTECHNOLOGY
    • All
    • Climate
    • Crop protection
    • digital (smart)
    • dron
    • Fertilizer
    • Research
    • weed
    The Future of Farming: How Agri-Tech is Revolutionizing Agriculture and Attracting a New Generation

    The Future of Farming: How Agri-Tech is Revolutionizing Agriculture and Attracting a New Generation

    Drones in Agriculture: Revolutionizing Crop Treatment or Just a High-Tech Stopgap?

    Drones in Agriculture: Revolutionizing Crop Treatment or Just a High-Tech Stopgap?

    KFU Scientists Develop Smart Algorithm for Autonomous Tractors to Reduce Soil Compaction and Boost Efficiency

    KFU Scientists Develop Smart Algorithm for Autonomous Tractors to Reduce Soil Compaction and Boost Efficiency

    Smart Garden” in the Arctic: How a Yakutian School is Pioneering Year-Round Farming in Extreme Conditions

    Smart Garden” in the Arctic: How a Yakutian School is Pioneering Year-Round Farming in Extreme Conditions

    EU Tariffs on Russian and Belarusian Fertilizers: A Threat to European Agriculture?

    EU Tariffs on Russian and Belarusian Fertilizers: A Threat to European Agriculture?

    Novgorod Farmers Overcome Extreme Weather to Exceed Spring Sowing Targets by 6%

    Novgorod Farmers Overcome Extreme Weather to Exceed Spring Sowing Targets by 6%

    Agricultural Drones in Leningrad Region: High Costs and Legal Barriers Slow Adoption Despite Benefits

    Agricultural Drones in Leningrad Region: High Costs and Legal Barriers Slow Adoption Despite Benefits

    Agricultural Insurance on the Rise: How Climate Risks Are Reshaping Farming in Russia and Tatarstan

    Agricultural Insurance on the Rise: How Climate Risks Are Reshaping Farming in Russia and Tatarstan

    Digital Twins in Agriculture: How Virtual Farm Modeling Boosts Efficiency and Sustainability

    Digital Twins in Agriculture: How Virtual Farm Modeling Boosts Efficiency and Sustainability

  • IRRIGATION
  • SEED PRODUCTION
    • Vegetables
    • Fruit
  • PROCESSING
No Result
View All Result
Vegetables News
Home News

Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Sweet Potato Venture: A Step Towards Reducing WA’s Reliance on Eastern Imports

by Tatyana Ivanovich
November 24, 2024
in News, Vegetables
0
Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Sweet Potato Venture: A Step Towards Reducing WA’s Reliance on Eastern Imports

Andrew and Nicola Forrest, the mining magnates behind Harvest Road, have set their sights on increasing sweet potato production in Western Australia. Their goal is to reduce the state’s heavy reliance on imports from the east coast, which currently supplies the majority of sweet potatoes to WA markets. Through innovative farming trials at Brickhouse Station in the Gascoyne region, 900 kilometers north of Perth, Harvest Road is working to scale up local production and provide a steady supply of this nutritious tuber year-round.

Since 2020, Harvest Road has been conducting horticultural trials to refine sweet potato cultivation in the region. In 2022, the trials culminated in a selection of three varieties: Bellevue, New Orleans (gold-skin varieties), and Murasaki (a red-skin, white-flesh variety). With harvest already underway at Brickhouse Station, the station expects to yield around 1,500 tonnes of sweet potatoes this season, which will be sold to major retailers such as HelloFresh, Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi. This will provide a significant boost to WA’s supply, which historically lags far behind the eastern states.

According to Hort Innovation, a grower-owned research and development group, the Bundaberg region of Queensland produced approximately 80,483 tonnes of sweet potatoes during the 2023 harvest, compared to just 915 tonnes in WA. Saxon Boston, the Farming Manager at Brickhouse Station, noted that 90% of the sweet potatoes consumed in WA are imported, typically transported from the eastern seaboard, a process that takes several days. This reliance on distant sources makes local production more essential, not only to reduce transport costs but also to improve freshness and sustainability.

This year, Harvest Road planted 30 hectares of sweet potatoes at Brickhouse Station, with plans to expand to 50 hectares, potentially producing up to 2,500 tonnes annually. The Gascoyne region is ideal for growing sweet potatoes due to its consistent sunlight, access to water, and favorable soil conditions, which allow for year-round production without seasonal limitations.

However, there are challenges to overcoming the entrenched dominance of the east coast in the sweet potato market. Joel Dinsdale, quality assurance coordinator at Vegetables WA, acknowledges the difficulty in achieving full local self-sufficiency. “It would be fantastic for our community if we could be completely self-sufficient,” Dinsdale said, though he pointed out that large-scale operations on the east coast have cornered the market. The significant production volumes in Queensland make it hard for WA producers to compete on a similar scale.

Growing sweet potatoes in WA also presents unique challenges. Paul Glavocich, a sweet potato grower in Wattleup, near Perth, highlighted the weather sensitivity of sweet potatoes. “Sweet potatoes don’t like frost, and they don’t do well in high heats like you see up north,” he explained. These growing conditions limit the potential for smaller producers to make a profit, with Glavocich noting that the costs associated with setting up the necessary infrastructure make it difficult for smaller-scale farmers to enter the market. Larger, well-backed businesses like Harvest Road, with significant financial resources, are better positioned to overcome these hurdles.

Despite these challenges, the Forrest family’s investment in sweet potato farming represents a promising development for WA’s agricultural future. By increasing local production, Harvest Road is not only working to reduce reliance on external sources but is also contributing to the sustainability of the state’s food system, reducing transportation emissions, and improving food security.

Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Harvest Road initiative to grow sweet potatoes in Western Australia is a bold step towards self-sufficiency and sustainability. With plans to expand production and refine growing practices, the company is working to reshape WA’s agricultural landscape and reduce the state’s dependency on imported produce. While challenges remain, particularly in terms of scaling production and overcoming weather-related hurdles, the project offers a hopeful glimpse into a more resilient and sustainable food future for the region.

Tags: agricultural innovationFarming Challengesfarming infrastructureGascoyne regionHarvest Roadhorticultural trialslocal food productionseasonal cropssustainabilitysweet potato farmingsweet potatoesWA food securityWestern Australia agriculture
Previous Post

Synergy Marine Group Champions Onboard AI Agriculture for Healthier Crews and a Greener Future

Next Post

The Rise of Aromatic Herb Farming: A Successful Venture with Rau Ngò Gai in Khánh Hòa

Next Post
The Rise of Aromatic Herb Farming: A Successful Venture with Rau Ngò Gai in Khánh Hòa

The Rise of Aromatic Herb Farming: A Successful Venture with Rau Ngò Gai in Khánh Hòa

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy of vegetables.news app

© 2020-2024 VEGETABLES NEWS

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
  • AGROTECHNOLOGY
  • IRRIGATION
  • SEED PRODUCTION
    • Vegetables
    • Fruit
  • PROCESSING

© 2020-2024 VEGETABLES NEWS