Australia Commercial NFT Hydroponic System for Year Round Leafy Green Production

A commercial farm in southeastern Australia, specializing in local leafy green production, faced challenges with outdoor cultivation due to hot, high-sun summers and significant winter temperature fluctuations. Seasonal and weather impacts led to inconsistent yield and quality. To ensure stable year-round production, the farm decided to implement a NFT hydroponic system for scalable lettuce cultivation, building on its existing farming experience.

The NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) hydroponic system operates within a greenhouse, circulating nutrient solution as a thin film over the plant roots, maintaining high oxygen levels. Planting density, nutrient concentration, and irrigation cycles can be uniformly controlled, resulting in consistent growth rates and uniform crop size. Compared with traditional soil-based farming, the system significantly reduces water and nutrient consumption, minimizes disease occurrence, and lowers reliance on pesticides, supporting the production of clean, sustainable leafy greens.

Harvested lettuce is supplied directly to the farm’s own fresh produce stores, ensuring controlled post-harvest handling, consistent quality, and maximum freshness. By bypassing wholesale channels, the farm maintains full oversight of hydroponic crop management, grading standards, and harvest scheduling, adjusting production to meet store demand. The NFT hydroponic system allows continuous year-round production, ensuring a stable supply of local lettuce in every season, providing a transparent, sustainable source of high-quality vegetables and enhancing the retail store’s competitive advantage.