A PROPOSED shift towards large-scale, high-tech glasshouse growing could mark a significant turning point for food security and food production in the Falkland Islands, according to Deputy Director of Development and Commercial Services, Steve Dent.
Speaking this week following the delivery of a new report by consultants ADAS, part of the RSK Group, Mr Dent outlined a future model centred on a half-hectare or one-hectare glasshouse capable of producing crops year-round under controlled conditions.
The report is the second phase of work commissioned after the Falkland Islands Government took over Stanley Growers in 2023.
While the first phase looked at the state of the business, the latest work examines what a long-term, sustainable model might be.
As Mr Dent put it, the proposal is for “either a half hectare or a whole hectare glasshouse where the vast majority of the crops are grown indoors, all year round.”
He explained that the concept relies on modern technology that combines natural light with LED systems, allowing production to continue through the darker months. “So there’s still a glasshouse, but there’s lights in there, massively energy efficient and supported by renewables,” he said, adding that the aim is to drive down production costs significantly.
“The cost of production goes through the floor,” Mr Dent said. “It also means that you can then produce a variety of crops for cheaper than the UK.”
He indicated that such a shift would strengthen food security and reduce costs: “The biggest cost to the customer for us is the cost of import,” he explained. “We would import significantly less than we would do today.”
The proposal also seeks to address ongoing challenges in the Falklands growing environment. Weather variability remains a major constraint on local production. Mr Dent pointed to the recent seasons. “Any vagrancies in the weather… everyone who is growing potatoes in the Falklands will tell you they’ve lost most of their spuds because of a couple of frosts.”
Growing under cover is increasingly seen as the solution globally, he explained to Penguin News, but in the Falklands it comes with its own challenges. “They want us to think about growing all of our outdoor crops undercover,” he said, but noted that this requires significant investment in infrastructure such as windbreaks and polytunnels.
The glasshouse model aims to overcome those limitations by creating a fully controlled environment. Systems can switch between soil and hydroponic growing, allowing flexibility depending on the crop. Water, heat and even carbon dioxide are recycled within the system. “All the water’s recycled, all the heat’s captured… you push carbon dioxide into the glass house to encourage growth,” Mr Dent explained.
Despite the technological promise, the proposal is not without risk. “It all works in Europe,” he noted, “it’s whether we’re working in the Falklands.” Wind, logistics and the wider “Falklands factor” all need careful consideration before any decision is made.
Capital cost is another key factor, though Mr Dent suggested it may be less prohibitive than assumed. “The capex isn’t as much as you think it is… it becomes more expensive [with the Falklands factor], but it’s still not crazy, and the return on investment is quite quick.”
He indicated that, based on current sales, investment could be recouped within a decade.
He said this does not yet account for potential expansion into new markets. Stanley Growers currently loses significant sales opportunities due to limited capacity and inconsistent supply. “We can’t produce the quantity or the quality at the right price to meet both of those markets,” he said, referring to demand from the military and cruise ships.
If those constraints were removed, demand could increase substantially. “I’m pretty sure the MOD would come across quite quickly,” Mr Dent said, noting that reducing freight requirements would be attractive operationally.
There is also potential to capture business currently going to ports such as Puerto Williams.
The proposed system is designed to be modular: “The point five hectare site proves concept… adding other point five hectares and one hectare glass houses onto that then increases your market share.”
Alongside the long-term vision, Mr Dent acknowledged that current local production has faced setbacks. “I think local production is less resilient today than it was when we took it over,” he said, pointing to the loss of land and polytunnels due to the port project and the slow pace of rebuilding building. Replacement land at The Canache is now coming into use, with potatoes planted and new polytunnels planned. “We’ll be in a much better place this time next year,” he said, though he emphasised that the glasshouse proposal remains several years away and dependent on investment decisions.
Pricing also remains a challenge at Stanley Growers. While there was an initial attempt to reduce prices following the government takeover, rising costs have forced adjustments. “We’ve had to put prices back up again this year because we realise that the model we chose, it wasn’t ideal,” Mr Dent said. He stressed that government has no intention of “generating large profits,” aiming instead to balance affordability with the need to reinvest.
He also noted that staffing pressures, particularly linked to housing, continue to impact operations. “The biggest limitation was just putting people somewhere,” he said, noting that recruitment for senior roles has been difficult.
An Executive Council paper due next month will set out options of Stanley Growers. “The aspiration of the government is to return it back to the private sector,” Mr Dent said, though various models remain under consideration.
