NT-first: Pioneering new food supply solution for the Northern Territory with farm to fork farming

We are thrilled to be partnering with Delaware North and Simon George & Sons to pioneer a new era of hyperlocal, sustainable dining in Australia’s Northern Territory.

Our first-of-its-kind partnership is reshaping fresh produce supply in the Northern Territory, with the launch of a hyperlocal indoor farming initiative at Delaware North’s Mindil Beach Casino Resort. 

The collaboration introduces a cutting-edge hub-and-spoke indoor farming model that enables premium fresh produce to be grown just minutes, or even metres, from where it is served.

Learn more about this exciting initiative here.

The initiative was launched with a function at Mindil Beach Casino Resort last week, where local media, government, influencers and business leaders enjoyed a taste of the future of farming.

Mindil Beach Casino Resort guests can now also experience this innovation firsthand at the newly refreshed il Piatto restaurant, where an InvertiWall vertical farming system allows diners to observe produce growing inside the venue.

Harvested just moments before it reaches the plate or glass, the result is unmatched freshness, flavour and nutritional value.

Behind-the-scenes, but still only minutes away in Winnellie, Simon George & Sons is supporting the collaboration with additional supplies and ingredients, sustainably grown with InvertiGro’s InvertiCube technology that is designed for commercial-scale food supply.

The initiative showcases the powerful intersection of technology, local agriculture and hospitality, delivering an elevated dining experience while simultaneously advancing sustainability outcomes.

Currently growing a range of herbs, microgreens and edible flowers that feature in il Piatto’s creative dishes and drinks, InvertiGro’s controlled environment systems remove the constraints of climate and seasonality, and are capable of growing a wide range of crops, enabling chefs to access rare, out-of-season and regionally unique ingredients to support premium dining experiences at Mindil Beach Casino Resort.

"Our technology enables fresh produce to be grown almost anywhere, regardless of climate or season," said Paul Millett, Co-Founder & CEO of InvertiGro. " Partnering with Mindil Beach Casino Resort and Simon George & Sons to provide producers, hospitality providers and diners with a real taste of the possibilities with InvertiGro technology is incredibly exciting." 

For global hospitality and entertainment leader Delaware North, the owner and operator of Mindil Beach Casino Resort, the partnership reinforces its commitment to innovative, responsible hospitality, prioritising local sourcing, reducing environmental impact and enhancing guest experiences.

"This partnership reflects Delaware North’s and Mindil Beach Casino Resort's commitment to innovation and sustainability in hospitality. With it we can elevate our dining experiences with consistently high-quality and hard-to-come by ingredients whilst also supporting local producers and reducing our environmental footprint," said Brad Morgan, General Manager of Mindil Beach Casino Resort.

"Growing produce just minutes from where it will be served is an exciting step forward for fresh food supply in the Territory," continued Mr Morgan. "This project allows us to deliver exceptional quality while continuing our commitment to a greener, more sustainable future."

For Simon George & Sons, the initiative builds on their commitment to solving real supply challenges in the Territory to get the freshest possible produce to customers with less distance, less waste, and less reliance on long freight routes.

"Our team has always found ways to get quality fresh produce to our customers despite the distances and challenges involved. This takes that a step further, and it's a pretty remarkable thing to be part of." Steve Ehlers, General Manager, Simon George & Sons Darwin.

Together, the partners are setting a new benchmark for hyperlocal food production in the Northern Territory, empowering chefs at Mindil Beach Casino Resort to create world-class cuisine using the freshest ingredients possible, grown right where they are needed.

Why should restaurants, resorts and remote food service models consider indoor vertical farming?

• Access to premium quality fresh produce, including out-of-season and/or out-of-region produce: supporting chef's and restaurants to deliver creative and elevated dining experiences

• Superior freshness and nutrition: hyperlocal produce delivers flavoursome produce at peak freshness.

• Security of supply: reliable, year-round access to premium quality fresh produce, regardless of the weather, fuel prices or access.

• Sustainability wins: hyperlocal growing reduces food miles to almost zero, reduces the need for packaging and significantly reduces waste. The sealed and controlled growing environment also negates the need for herbicides and pesticides. InvertiGro produce is grown with precisely what the plants need and love – and nothing more.