TAFE students get smart with farming in Sunraysia

News
Published: 31 March 2025

Horticulture students are going high-tech at the SuniTAFE SMART Farm campus in Cardross.

Students and growers can train and work side-by-side using cutting-edge technology and equipment at the newly redeveloped campus.

The Victorian Government’s $2 million investment has delivered upgraded facilities including:

  • a new potting shed with automated seeding and potting machines
  • a modular farm for controlled climate cropping with hydroponics
  • new irrigation systems
  • upgraded hydraulic valves.

More crop patches have been planted including:

  • almonds
  • olives
  • table grapes
  • citrus
  • avocados.

Sunraysia has a strong reputation as Australia’s horticultural food bowl. Horticulture and agriculture drive the region’s economy. There is high demand for skilled workers who have hands-on experience with precision farming and digital technologies.

SuniTAFE’s upgraded SMART Farm training and innovation campus gives students the opportunity to work with industry and researchers on projects in:

  • horticulture
  • conservation
  • precision farming
  • business management.

Industry partners can use the farm to test new crops, technology and processes.

The Victorian Government is making sure all Victorians can get the skills they need for jobs they want. Through Free TAFE, students can access more than 80 qualifications and short courses without the cost of tuition fees.

Courses available through Free TAFE include the Certificate III in Production Horticulture.

More than 200,000 students have benefitted from Free TAFE since it began in 2019. This includes more than 50,000 people studying in regional Victoria. They have saved more than $590 million in tuition fees.

Learn more about Free TAFE on the vic.gov.au website.

What is SMART farming?

SMART stands for Sustainable, Manageable, Accessible, Rural Technologies.

SMART farming combines traditional skills and processes with modern technology. It can make farming more productive, efficient and sustainable.

Examples of the technology include:

  • robots
  • drones
  • driverless tractors
  • automatic watering and irrigation systems
  • automated weeding and crop maintenance
  • real-time data for monitoring and analysis.

SMART farming is also known as precision farming.