$400,000 grant for egg farm upgrade and tourism experience
An upgrade to the Solar Eggs Farms operation in Barossa Valley will increase local free range egg production, establish a new tourism offering in the region and create 12 ongoing jobs.
Solar Eggs has been awarded a $400,000 State Government Regional Development Fund grant to support the upgrade of five of its free range sheds and runs at its Barossa farm. It will include the latest in design innovation for free range egg production.
The $2.15 million upgrade will also feature a new farm shop and a café which will serve local produce and is positioned on a main entry road to the Barossa Valley.
Farm tours will also be conducted in what will be a unique new tourism attraction to the region.
The project will create 12 ongoing full time jobs and six jobs during construction.
Background
Solar Eggs is one of South Australia's two major egg producers and is well positioned to replace eggs imported from interstate, pending an upgrade of its recently-purchased Barossa farm.
The company features advanced farming, production and processing methods that exceed industry regulatory expectations, producing 47 million eggs annually.
This grant means that Solar Eggs will be able to expand its production to a level that will allow the company to export, particularly to high value Asian markets in the premium and luxury categories.
Solar Eggs has five farms in South Australia – in Barossa, Lobethal, McLaren Vale, Kadina and Paringa.
The Regional Development Fund (RDF) drives economic growth through grants to boost investment in regional infrastructure and the creation of jobs in South Australia.
According to independent analysis, projects awarded grants through Rounds 1 and 2 of the RDF created over 2,000 regional jobs and contributed around $930 million to the South Australian economy in 2015-16.
In the Barossa, Light and Lower North, RDF projects from Rounds 1 and 2 created around 250 jobs and contributed around $80 million to the economy in 2015-16.
This project supports the State Government's economic priorities of 'Premium food and wine produced in our clean environment and exported to the world' and 'South Australia – a growing destination choice for international and domestic travellers'.
Quotes attributable to Regional Development Minister Geoff Brock
The upgrade to Solar Eggs' Barossa Valley farm will see the company increase its production to meet demand for their premium eggs.
It will also give them the capacity to target export markets, particularly where demand for quality South Australian eggs are expanding.
The farm shop and farm tours will provide a unique agri-tourism attraction for the region, attracting both local and international visitors.
Quotes attributable to Jonathan Attard, Managing Director, Solar Eggs Farms
The expansion of our Barossa Valley farm – with specially designed sheds and enclosures – will allow us to guarantee the optimum living conditions for our hens, resulting in the best quality eggs.
Our free range system ensures the best conditions for hens both in terms of the laying environment and biosecurity.
By increasing our production and capturing more of the market share we can replace eggs brought into South Australia from interstate.
This project will increase our current production at the Barossa Valley farm by 200%.
Original Source: SA Premier