After an epic quest all over the world, the owners of BoomaFood based in Cessnock, in the NSW Hunter Region, are confident they've tracked down the best sustainable growing technology to see us through future climate challenges like flood and drought. In a southern-hemisphere first, the Indigenous-owned company has launched the patented vertical design, that grows an abundance of leafy greens, indoors, all year round. To learn more about this business with a lot of heart, Managing Director of Booma, Cory Robertson joins me now, to discuss:
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Cory's Indigenous-owned company has a heritage going back generations.
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The name BoomaFoods comes from "boomerang," reflecting the idea of returns on invested interest and playing a role in getting food on the table.
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Cory explains that Booma Food is grounded in the best technology to sustainably produce food, no matter the climate challenges, using cubic farm technology and Crop Motion — innovations he researched while travelling far and wide.
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He shares that the system excels at seed propagation and that this technology could easily be shared throughout the nation.
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While these vertical systems can operate commercially, Cory notes that Australia has only a 1.8% Aboriginal participation rate in agriculture, and he is determined to change that.
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Cory describes why he chose vertical farming and how his patented system differs from others on the market.
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He outlines how the system operates at ground level and his vision for it to be used nationwide.
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Cory is passionate about working with Indigenous cultures in Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu, and Fiji.
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What Cory loves most about working on these food solutions is the focus on Environmental Social Governance and being a light in the community.
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The most unexpected thing for Cory was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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A common misconception Cory encounters is that vertical farming is "just tech."
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Cory's dream for the future is to see his solutions adopted widely and making a lasting impact.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
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