by Kaija Du
A vertical farm is on its way to Melbourne, aiming to bring down farming times, space and environmental inconsistencies.
Stacked farm, a controlled environment agriculture leader, has attained funding approval for planning the farm near Melbourne Airport.
The $150 million farm is a benchmark for fully- automated climate-controlled farming, allowing for a 100 000 square metre facility.
The farm will yield 3.4 million kilograms of herbs and leafy greens a year, with a specialisation in cos and mixed leaf lettuces, spinach, rocket, basil, coriander and parsley.
Without the need for imports and weather disruptions the farm hopes to reform how Australians access their vegetables.
It is the first large-scale project of its kind in an airport precinct in the southern hemisphere, requiring only 15 staff members and 25 pieces of proprietary robotics.
The farm commenced work in January 2025 with a planned opening in mid-2026.
The project is also funded by debt and equity, including an investment from Magnetar Capital, US-based alternative assets manager, said Jai McDermott, Melbourne Airport chief of ground transport.
“Melbourne Airport will construct a dedicated building for Stacked Farm as part of the new 150,000 sqm Tullamarine land precinct,” he said.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Stacked Farm to Melbourne Airport. There’s no other business like this at Melbourne Airport – or even in the country.”
The finished project will have a zero-waste water system and powered by green energy to create faster farming outcomes.
The system yields crops in 16 to 31 days rather than a traditional 45 to 80 days in a farm.
Stacked Farm chief operating officer Sam Canavan said that it will cut costs.
“Stacked Farm Melbourne isn’t just another AgTech project—it’s a game-changer. Our cutting-edge design and proprietary technology are redefining farming efficiency and setting a new global benchmark. This is the future of fresh food, built by a world-class team,” he said.
