Partnering with growers to help you succeed

For more than 25 years, we at Galuku have been partnering with the horticulture industry around the world. With decades of research and development, our eco-friendly, soilless coir substrate products have helped revolutionise hydroponic growing to produce crops of exceptional quality.

We work differently from other suppliers and see the relationship between us and our customers as a partnership. We want to see growers succeed so we provide a range of technical support and expertise, backed by science, to help you sustainably cultivate the best quality crops.

Our global story

The Galuku journey started when company founder Joe Davids was travelling through Sri Lanka and discovered the amazing properties of coconut husk (coir). This product was often thrown away without a second thought and few people knew of its potential. Joe, and co-founder Andy Swan, brought the first blocks of coir peat (cocopeat) into Australia in 1992, as a substitute for the unsustainably Australian mined peat of that era. 

Galuku founder Joe Davids said, “By the time we brought our third shipment into the country, Galuku had helped the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) develop the import conditions for the product and we had begun our mission to transform soilless growing in the horticulture industry.”

In the beginning, we partnered with plant nurseries and potting soil companies in Australia to conduct our research. Together we developed new ways of using coir peat as a water-saving ingredient in potting soils, harnessing its incredible water-holding properties. This work is still seen in most premium potting soils sold today.

The next step in our journey was for Galuku to join with our Sri Lankan counterpart to manufacture coir products to meet the required standards in Australia. This partnership has always been of great importance to us, not only did it help develop the budding coconut industry, but also created jobs in the coir peat’s country of origin.

A few years later we did the same in India, where we now have eight factories with more than 250 staff, playing a key role in helping people in many countries grow clean healthy food crops. Around the world, 95% of our employees have worked for Galuku for more than 15 years.

Industry Innovation

Galuku invented and patented the Easyfil PlanterBag, an open-top container growing system that combines the container and substrate in one product. This economical, easy-to-use solution was originally developed in collaboration with tomato and cucumber growers in Australia. These growers were previously using plastic bags filled with sawdust to grow in low tech, hydroponic tunnels. Galuku also led the transformation of the Mexican tomato growing industry, which is now a powerhouse of high tech hydroponic farming using coir instead of rockwool. Now our product is world-renowned, having helped transform growing industries around the globe. 

Our research with the Australian berry industry revolutionised the cultivation of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries out of the ground and into soilless media. Collaborating with allied protected cropping suppliers, including greenhouse constructors, irrigation companies and hydroponic container suppliers, has further advanced our solutions for growing higher quality crops with stronger yields. 

We also partnered with the largest ginger beer brewer in Australia to develop a new way to grow premium quality ginger. In addition to that, both the rubus and rhizome industries have experienced significant benefits from the EasyFil PlanterBag which we adapt for different uses. 

From blueberries in Peru to ginger in Hawaii, we are proud of the solutions our partners have helped us deliver, and share with growers throughout the world.