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Greenhouse Climate Study and Financial Assessment

A Greenhouse Climate Study and Financial Assessment for a new or existing protected cropping or hydroponic project covers a range of aspects, from the proposal for a detailed business plan through to a climate study, system design and energy usage.

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Hydroponic Vegetable Grower
9 years growing crops in controlled greenhouse production system in Woodend, Victoria, 1989–2007

Hydroponic Farmers Federation Inc
Foundation Secretary from 1995
Committee Member 2005–2015
Life Member 2014

Australian Hydroponic & Greenhouse Association Inc
Committee member in 1995
National president 1999–2010

Protected Cropping Australia
Board member
Chairman 2010–2012
Member 2013–2015
Life Member 2012

Graeme Smith Consulting

  • Company formed in 1998 to offer system and crop consultancy services to new and existing growers across Australia.
  • Company has developed full training package in commercial hydroponic crop production.
  • Facilitated a 5-year plan for the development and delivery of a skills training package for all industry growers across Australia.
  • Developed and delivered national workshops to assist greenhouse growers to convert to full nutrient recycling (closed) systems delivering an annual industry saving of AU$25million.
  • Company facilitates greenhouse study tours of Europe & North America, encouraging growers to assess firsthand new and emerging technologies and how to integrate into their existing systems.
  • Performs detailed feasibility studies including climate and financial studies for new and existing enterprises (inc. ROI & EBIT), including most of the larger commercial systems throughout Australia.
  • Has completed 48+ greenhouse projects around Australia ranging from 180m2 to 160,000m2 (16ha)
  • Multiple projects in India (5) and China (3) and Singapore encompassing traditional greenhouse systems, aquaponics, vertical farms, automation, training and novel crops
  • Led the design process for a modern, efficient, state of the art, 18ha semi-closed greenhouse for the production of medicinal cannabis using automation to facilitate low-cost production.
  • Graeme is a Charted Agriculturist (CAg) and an Accredited Member of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (AIAST).
  • Graeme is Chairman of ISHS Working Group – ‘Hydroponics and Aquaponics’ and Vice Chair of ISHS Division – Protected Cultivation and Soilless Culture

Download Graeme Smith's full CV

General Industry Information

This area provides a resource of freely available information regarding the protected cropping industry. You are at liberty to use this information in a responsible way, however I do ask you to acknowledge its source in any publications (www.graemesmithconsulting.com).

It will be regularly updated with general protected cropping industry information, therefore I invite you back to visit this site from time to time to update your information

Some articles are in PDF or Excel format.

 An Overview of the Australian Protected Cropping Industry (5.8Mb)

pdficonsmall National Greenhouse Waste-Water Recycling Project

pdficonsmall Pathways to Production - a skilling initiative of the Australian protected cropping industry

pdficonsmall Neutralising pesticides in recirculating water systems within a protected cropping system

pdficonsmall Proposal to import bombus terestris into mainland Australia for crop pollination purposes

pdficonsmall Greenhouse vegetable study tour of Holland - November 2005

pdficonsmall Greenhouse study tour of Canada - September 2006

pdficonsmall European greenhouse study tour of Holland - October 2007

pdficonsmall European greenhouse study tour of Holland - October 2009

pdficonsmall Horticultural Congress Trust Award - final report - IHC Lisbon 2010

pdficonsmall Where is the best place to grow greenhouse crops in Australia?

Contact Us

You can contact Graeme Smith Consulting by using the form below.

About us

Graeme Smith Consulting is a company founded by Graeme Smith in 1998 to supply specialised services to the protected cropping industry. Graeme entered the industry as a greenhouse grower in the late 1980s and since this time has delivered services to the wider industry including:

  • System Design
  • Project Management
  • Crop Advisory Services
  • Representation on national Industry Body (AHGA & Protected Cropping Australia)
  • Representation on Victorian State Industry Body (HFF)
  • Chaired Protected Cropping Working Group for HAL & AusVeg
  • Developed Climate & Financial Studies for New and Extension Projects
  • Delivered Industry Training in Protected Cropping

See Graeme Smith's CV for further details.

Graeme Smith Consulting acknowledges that protected cropping is the 'modern face of horticulture' and has the capacity to better meet the future needs of sustainable quality food production in the key areas of tomatoes, cucumbers, capsicums, egg plant, Asian greens, herbs, lettuce, strawberry, etc.

Additionally, the integration of aquaculture and hydroponics to convert a waste stream into a revenue stream via 'aquaponics' is the next logical step to produce high-value crops on the same footprint with the same water with negligible impact on the natural environment.

Add to this the floriculture production of cut-flowers in protected cropping systems, it delivers a modern sustainable industry going forward that forms part of the horticultural solution for future human needs.

This site is intended to be an industry resource to meet the needs of growers, researchers, hobbyists, trainers, retailers, suppliers, government, etc in the wider area of protected cropping.

(All information is given in good faith however no liability is accepted for content or its application.)

I trust you find this information useful and any enquiries or comments can be directed to:

Graeme Smith (CPAg)
Graeme Smith Consulting
PO Box 789
Woodend Victoria 3442
Australia
Phone: +61 (0) 427 339 009