Most people don’t think about concrete when they pick up a fresh bunch of herbs at the supermarket.
Yet behind every modern food producer is a network of infrastructure quietly keeping operations running safely, efficiently and reliably.
That was the challenge facing South Australian grower Holla-Fresh, one of Australia’s leading producers of hydroponically grown herbs.
As the business invested in pioneering Australian renewable energy technology, it needed purpose-built infrastructure to ensure a secure, continuous supply of dry biomass. National Precast member Blackbird Industries delivered a precast concrete storage facility that now allows Holla-Fresh to store up to eight semi-trailer loads of biomass on site, providing the dry, reliable storage essential to keeping the system operating continuously.
Australian innovation powering sustainable agriculture
The storage facility forms part of one of Australia’s most innovative sustainable food production projects.
Following an extensive review of renewable energy options, Holla-Fresh selected the Australian-developed ECHO2 Biomass to Energy & Biochar system. The installation is the first commercial demonstration of the technology, converting waste biomass into renewable energy while producing biochar, a stable form of carbon that can remain locked away in the soil for thousands of years.
The system supplies renewable heat to the glasshouse, with future stages planned to generate electricity and horticultural carbon dioxide. The resulting biochar is exchanged for fresh biomass, creating a circular system that benefits both energy generation and soil health.
The environmental outcomes are significant. Each year, the system is expected to avoid approximately 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions through renewable energy generation while permanently locking away around 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in biochar, making Holla-Fresh’s operations carbon negative.
Behind these impressive figures lies a simple operational requirement: a continuous supply of dry biomass.
Previously, Holla-Fresh relied on a just-in-time delivery model, with semi-trailers feeding directly into the receiving system. The new precast storage facility provides the resilience to hold up to eight semi-trailer loads of biomass on site, protecting operations from supply interruptions while ensuring consistent fuel quality.
Built for performance
Rather than relying on traditional in situ construction, Blackbird Industries manufactured the precast concrete components off site before transporting and installing them at the facility.
This approach reduced construction time, improved quality control and minimised disruption to Holla-Fresh’s day to day operations, allowing the business to continue operating throughout construction.
“Every project starts with understanding how our client operates. In this case, reliable fuel storage wasn’t simply another structure on site. It was fundamental to keeping an innovative energy system running every day. Precast gave us the ability to deliver a durable, purpose-built solution quickly while providing the long-term performance the client needed to support their investment,” said Chris Blakemore, Project Manager, Blackbird Industries
Small project, significant impact
While relatively modest in size, the project demonstrates an important point about precast concrete.
Some of precast’s greatest contributions are not landmark buildings or major transport infrastructure. They are the specialised facilities that quietly enable Australian businesses to innovate, improve productivity and adopt new technologies.
For industries such as food production, reliability is everything. Infrastructure must withstand demanding operating conditions while delivering decades of low maintenance performance. Precast concrete offers the durability, speed of construction and long-term value these facilities demand.
Building a more sustainable future
Projects like this demonstrate how precast concrete is helping Australian businesses transition towards lower carbon operations.
As organisations invest in cleaner energy sources, advanced manufacturing and more efficient production systems, purpose-built concrete infrastructure is often the critical enabler that makes those investments possible.
For Blackbird Industries, the project showcases how locally manufactured precast concrete can solve complex operational challenges. For Holla-Fresh, it represents another step towards a more resilient and sustainable future for Australian food production.
More than concrete
Projects like this rarely make headlines, yet they demonstrate the vital role the Australian precast industry plays every day.
Whether supporting food production, renewable energy, manufacturing or major infrastructure, precast concrete provides the resilient, durable and efficient infrastructure that enables Australian businesses to thrive.
As demand grows for faster construction, improved sustainability and more resilient operations, projects like Holla-Fresh show that precast concrete is doing far more than building structures. It is helping build the systems that support Australia’s future.
“When people talk about sustainability, they often focus on the technology itself. Just as important is the infrastructure that allows those technologies to operate reliably over the long term. This project is an excellent example of how Australian precast manufacturers are helping businesses adopt innovative solutions that improve productivity, strengthen resilience and reduce environmental impact. Blackbird Industries should be proud of the role they have played in bringing this pioneering project to life,” said Cadell Taye, CEO, National Precast
Project at a glance
- Client: Holla-Fresh
- Precaster: National Precast member Blackbird Industries
- Application: Biomass storage facility
- Purpose: Supports Australia’s first commercial ECHO2 Biomass to Energy & Biochar system
- Storage capacity: Up to 8 semi-trailer loads of biomass
- Sustainability outcome: Supports carbon-negative food production by enabling the reliable operation of an innovative renewable energy system