Can the production of green nitrogen fertiliser support Mountford Berries’ decarbonisation journey, and give them greater confidence in the supply of this critical input? The Mackinnon family is trialling a new system from PlasmaLeap Technologies, which uses green electricity to create a lightning-like plasma that activates nitrogen molecules to produce nitrate-based fertilisers with a significantly reduced carbon footprint. This is a powerful example of research and innovation working to solve real-world problems on farms.
The farm: Mountford Berries
About: 35ha of productive plastic poly tunnels with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries
Location: Longford, Tasmania
This case study is part of a series supported by the NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Hub’s Land and Primary Industries Network, in partnership with Southern Cross University.
Listen to the full podcast (below).
The challenges
Initial set-up issues: Starting with four hectares of berries, the Mackinnon family faced a “few missteps”, one being the Western flower thrip (an invasive pest), which reduced production by 50 per cent in the second year. “It certainly knocked our enthusiasm, but we pushed forward,” says Hugh.
Cost and availability of fertiliser: Global events such as Covid and the conflict in the Middle East affected the supply of fertiliser. Mountford Berries made the tough financial decision to purchase 12 months’ worth of fertiliser.
Maintaining a consistent environment for plant health: “Over the summer period, if we lose water or power on a given day, we’ve got three hours before plants start to die,” Hugh said. “We have a standby generator for power, we have reserve water supplies. But if we can’t get fertiliser, the game is a non-event. We need the security of the key inputs of water, power and fertiliser.”
The turning point
Mountford Berries grows all its plants hydroponically and nitrogen is a key input in ensuring the farm remains productive. “We need to re-equip ourselves to manufacture the fertilisers that we need for the security of food production in this country. I was not frightened to look outside the square,” Hugh said.
Thanks to a personal relationship with PlasmaLeap’s CEO, Hugh learned what was in the pipeline and was keen to get involved.
Professor PJ Cullen, PlasmaLeap’s Chief Scientific Officer, said the Mackinnons’ farm was one of the first to trial their green nitrogen fertiliser technology at scale. The process synthesises ammonia and nitrates from atmospheric air, water, and renewable electricity, and delivers fertilisers as a high concentrate aqueous solutions suitable for most cropping operations.
On-farm changes
Trialling PlasmaLeap’s green nitrogen fertiliser
Working in with Mountford Berries’ hydroponic system, this will reduce the need for synthetic inputs, provide a reliable and cost-effective fertiliser source, and reduce emissions.
Adopted integrated pest management strategies
Biological controls have helped reduce the burden of pests which previously had a major impact.
Planted three hectares of agroforestry
“We’re aware that we are applying a lot of fertiliser and nitrogen into a fairly concentrated area. The agroforestry area will absorb all the wastewater that comes out of the hydroponic system and that’ll then be stabilised into harvestable timber,” Hugh said.
Installed solar power on the warehouse
This system meets the operation’s power requirements over the harvest period, which runs from the end of October through to June. It includes running the coolroom, irrigation system and office.
Shifting to agri-tech solutions
The farm uses autonomous vehicles and harvest vehicles, electric trikes and electric mowers. Sensors are used to control irrigation.
I'm really thrilled to be working with PlasmaLeap on this because nitrogen is one of those key inputs, and specifically liquid nitrogen fertiliser is important to us.
Impacts
Reduced emissions and carbon footprint
- Solar reduces reliance on grid electricity
- Electric equipment reduces use of fuel and diesel
- On-farm fertiliser production with PlasmaLeap technology reduces emissions and reduces dependence on global supply chains.
Improved farm efficiencies
- Sensor-controlled irrigation reduces waste
- Integrated pest management strategies help improve productivity
Early adoption of green nitrogen technology
- Farm contributes to scaling a new low-emissions solution
- Partnership with PlasmaLeap demonstrates research in practice
- Influence on broader sector helps demonstrate feasibility of on-farm fertiliser production.
It makes no sense to be shipping nitrogen around the world and then to somehow end up caught in a supply chain that's vulnerable. Most of our atmosphere, 80 per cent of it, is made up of nitrogen. We should be able to have technologies that are able to literally produce that nitrogen product from the atmosphere around us.
