Australian Antarctic team yields big haul of fresh produce with hydroponics

Antarctic Hydroponics | Jano Gibson |

IMAGE: Scott Newman says it’s like “summer all year” inside the hydroponics facility. (ABC News: Jano Gibson)

In short:

Antarctica is the coldest, driest and windiest continent on the planet.

But at Casey Station, expeditioners can still grow fresh produce throughout the year thanks to a hydroponics facility that has a constant temperature of 24 degrees Celsius.

What’s next?

A total of 130 kilograms of tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and herbs have been grown over 12 months, giving the station’s chefs fresh ingredients for meals.

Casey Station, Australia’s largest Antarctic research base, is about 3,500 kilometres from the nearest supermarket.

So, when supplies run short, picking up some extra vegetables and herbs from the local shop isn’t an option for chefs like Brooke Hartney.

“As we know, due to geography, we are limited with fresh produce,” Ms Hartney said.

The remote outpost receives only one resupply voyage from Australia each year.

It means the station’s chefs must largely rely on canned vegetables and dried herbs when they prepare daily meals for up to 125 expeditioners.

But there is another option.

Across the road from the kitchen are two large shipping containers that have been converted into a thriving edible garden.

“Getting some fresh produce a few times a week from our ‘hydro’ team is just fabulous,” Ms Hartney said.

“A little bit of crunch on the palate is delightful.”

Summer all year inside hydroponics facility

The hydroponics facility provides perfect growing conditions — even when freezing blizzards hit the station.

“It’s actually sometimes easier (growing in) Antarctica than back on the mainland,” said electrician Scott Newman, who helped manage the facility over the past year.

“We keep it at a constant temperature (of 24 degrees Celsius), there’s no big winds, there’s no frost inside this room.

“It’s a pretty stable environment — summer all year.”

The facility contains garden beds filled with all manner of plants.

“We mainly grow tomatoes, cucumbers, heaps of lettuce, silverbeet, kale, bok choy, mint, basil, sage,” Mr Newman said.

“This is so much better than produce from the mainland.

“It’s fresh, it’s from here, straight to the kitchen two minutes away.”

Biosecurity rules protect Antarctic environment

All of Australia’s Antarctic and sub-Antarctic stations have hydroponics facilities to ensure expeditioners get access to fresh and healthy food throughout the year.

Under the Antarctic Treaty System, the facilities are subject to biosecurity rules to reduce the risk of non-native species and diseases being introduced.

For example, soil is prohibited, so sterilised seeds are instead planted in alternative growing mediums, including expanded clay, rockwool and perlite.

Non-fruit bearing plants, such as herbs, are not allowed to go to seed, with their flowers incinerated to reduce any risks.

And all pollination must be done manually.

“We don’t have any bugs and bees,” Mr Newman said.

“So, especially with cucumbers, we have to pollinate the cucumbers ourselves.

“We have a little paintbrush and paint from one flower to the other to move the pollen across.”

Over the past year, the team harvested an impressive 130 kilograms of fresh produce.

“We only have fresh produce for about a month after the ship leaves,” Mr Newman said.

“So to be able to have fresh produce all year round is a big win for station.

“It makes a big difference to the station community when they get fresh lettuce and fresh tomatoes on the table.”

Original Article: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-28/antarctic-garden-yields-big-haul-of-fresh-produce/106385768