Optimum healing for grafted plants - that’s what Jack Mooney had in mind when designing his propagation facility. With 4 state of the art climate chambers integrated with it, Provenance Propagation, which opened earlier this week, provides high-quality plant propagation services to Australian growers.
Successful healing of grafted tomato seedlings
Keeping grafted seedlings healthy is what has kept Jack Mooney awake for many years now: ever since starting his bachelor's education when he researched factors that influence the successful healing of grafted tomato seedlings. His career path after graduation includes Australian greenhouse company Costa Group, where he helped improve the grafting activities, a visit to multiple horticultural propagators all over the world, a job with Canadian propagator Roelands Farm, and the completion of a PhD in horticulture focusing on - you might have guessed - the healing of grafted vegetable seedlings.
Based on all knowledge and experience gained, and answering the growing demand for high-quality seedlings in Australia, Provenance Propagation was designed. From this 5700m2 facility in NSW mid-north coast, the company has started to supply commercial vegetable growers and research institutions in the domestic market with cucumber, tomato, eggplant, capsicum and grafted watermelon plants. The glasshouse is the largest independent vegetable propagation glasshouse in NSW and the Eastern States of Australia.
"Future is in food"
In November 2021, Provenance Propagation, became the recipient of a provided through the Nationals in NSW Government’s Regional Job Creation Fund, as it is expected to create 45 local jobs. “The future is in food", Jack shared back then. "We are a very dry country, so greenhouse farming is very important as you can increase sustainability by about 90 percent through reducing water use."
Ground was broken in August last year and Provenance Propagation celebrated its ribbon cutting and grand opening earlier this week, on June 05, 2023. The opening was attended by several esteemed growers from the horticulture industry, who were keen to witness the unveiling of the state-of-the-art glasshouse facility built by APEX Greenhouses, the laboratory, and meet up with the experienced team. The grand opening featured a tour of the facility for the attendees.
Advanced facility
“The opening of Provenance Propagation is a game-changer for the horticulture industry in Australia and for job seekers across the region”, Jack shared proudly, revealing the biggest challenge in setting up the facility has not been anything technical - but has been the personal sacrifices. “The long working hours, financial pressure, uncertainty, work-life balance, and raising a young family”, he sums up. However - he is assured Provenance Propagation is poised to revolutionise the horticulture industry with its advanced facility.
With advanced climate control technology, targeted irrigation infrastructure, and automated growing systems by Bosman Van Zaal, the company is answering developments in the markets, as well as the best practice hygiene protocols, as well as pest and disease mitigation – and there’s more. “We have built 4 state-of-the-art climate chambers (temperature, light, and humidity controlled) for the healing of grafted plants, the design underpinned by my Ph.D. on the healing of grafted plants”, Jack showed. “Backed by our knowledge and this facility, we’re committed to providing exceptional service and expertise to growers in the horticultural industry.”
