Vertical farming is set to change the agricultural landscape, allowing food to be grown almost anywhere at any time.
The concept is currently synonymous with urban farming, but it is set to spread outside the city limits.
Fran McLaughlin, from southern NSW, hopes that utilising the controlled-environment technique will allow her to help feed the bush from her backyard.
The former broadacre farmer is a recipient of the AgriFutures Rural Women's Acceleration grant, awarded for her 'Feed the Bush' initiative.
The concept aims to make fresh produce more accessible to rural areas and develop the Riverina's intensive horticulture industry using vertical farming.
"I think COVID really highlighted accessibility to fresh produce issues with supply chains," Ms McLaughlin said.
"We have a lifestyle block. So, we're looking at something that we could utilise to produce fresh food from that small acreage.
Removing climate risk from the equation
Ms McLaughlin plans to use modular grow cubes from Australian AgTech company InvertiGro to grow leafy greens, Asian vegetables and herbs from her home in Narrandera.
The cubes are configured to deliver optimal conditions and inputs for more than 150 different crops, allowing produce to be grown under lights in as little as seven days.
"I like to refer to it as "beyond organic". There's no chemicals, all-natural fertilisers, organic seed and minimal water usage," she said.
"A large cost component in relation to intensive horticulture systems is the power that's required. We're going to combat that through the use of solar power."
Local produce supplied to local supermarkets
Ms McLaughlin said as a former broadacre farmer, the concept of being in control of both the climate and market was attractive.
"Just the inconsistency and having to depend on Mother Nature, that's what really turned our thoughts to intensive, controlled systems, where we have some control over the quality of the products, the input costs and the marketing."
Ms McLaughlin wants to supply her produce to local supermarkets and hopes to eventually become a distribution centre for other growers in the region keen to try intensive horticulture.
The 'food deserts' of regional Australia
InvertiGro co-founder Paul Millett said its vision was to establish a micro-grid model for farming.
He said produce grown in regional Australia is often transported to metro centres to be processed before being shipped back to the regions.
"The shelf life is then down to days, and the farmers who grew it, or their neighbours, are missing out on the best produce."
