Melbourne-based startup Gaia Project Australia (GPA) has received a $1 million boost from the newly launched Eagle Fund, a joint initiative by La Trobe University and Breakthrough Victoria. The investment will accelerate commercial deployment of Gaia’s Omni-System — a next-generation vertical farming technology that increases leafy green yields by up to 40% while reducing capital and operational costs.
Led by CEO and founder Nadun Hennayaka, and developed in collaboration with La Trobe researchers, the Omni-System is now set for rollout across Australia, India, and Sri Lanka, with market entry in Europe and the US underway. A full-scale southern hemisphere launch is expected in spring 2025.
This news comes amid a turbulent time in vertical farming, following the downfall of US-based giants Plenty and Bowery Farming. Yet the sector is still seeing momentum, with Stacked Farm planning a $150 million facility in Melbourne and Square Roots expanding into Japan.
The Eagle Fund also announced a $1 million investment into ExCelligent, a La Trobe spinout focused on early diagnostics for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
La Trobe Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell:
“This fund bridges the gap between research and commercialisation — giving startups like Gaia Project the backing they need to scale globally.
READ MORE
