“ Hydroponic culture is being applied under many extreme conditions never even remotely considered before , like a space station under zero gravity or growing fresh salad crops in Antarctica .”
lame it on Millennials . Not in a negative
B sense because the trend toward hydroponic food production came about as part of a trend toward food that is locally grown , sustainable , fresh , and full of flavor . Tech-savvy Millennials , who are health and environmentally conscious , and are entering their spending prime , are driving many sectors of the economy , including where food comes from . Those driving factors on the part of consumers , augmented by a search for innovative ways to increase productivity and sustainability while decreasing energy needs , has made the concept of water culture very attractive in light of climate change and food insecurity issues . One of the true pioneers in the industry is Dr . Howard Resh , an urban horticulturist known for implementing and managing commercial hydroponic operations worldwide , from Saudi Arabia to Taiwan to the Caribbean . “ It ’ s an exciting time within the industry ,” Resh says . “ Hydroponic culture is being applied under many extreme conditions never even remotely considered before , like a space station under zero gravity or growing fresh salad crops in Antarctica .” Looking ahead , he says , “ Look for new crop applications , like eggplant . Grown in the field , it gets bruises and blemishes . Consumers love the hydroponic version . I envision more automation involving product transported by automated carts , waste heat being circulated from power plants and gas turbines and piped into greenhouses , and a growth in rooftop greenhouses . This is a big area that will develop rapidly in an attempt to eliminate food deserts .”
There is a rapidly growing list of advocates who insist hydroponic farming will change the world . One company , AmHydro , notes : “ We are no longer limited by climate or season in the pursuit of fresh food . We can grow virtually any plant , anywhere , at any time of day or year with simple , effective hydroponic systems coupled with modern horticultural lighting .” One beacon of success in the industry is Jenn Frymark , a graduate of the University of Arizona ’ s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center ( CEAC ) in Tucson and the current chief agricultural officer and manager at Gotham Greens Holdings , LLC , which now grows 10 million heads of lettuce and other greens year-round without soil in rooftop greenhouses in New York and Chicago . The Windy City facility , at 75,000 square feet , is one of the largest rooftop greenhouses in the world .
“ Hydroponic culture is being applied under many extreme conditions never even remotely considered before , like a space station under zero gravity or growing fresh salad crops in Antarctica .”
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FROM NOVELTY TO NEED
While still a relatively new technology , hydroponics has been evolving rapidly since its inception some 70 years ago . It ’ s grown from a future concept to a current methodology — a family of techniques in use throughout the world to meet specialized agricultural needs . According to a University of Arizona agricultural publication dealing with hydroponically grown tomatoes , “ This technology can efficiently generate food crops from barren desert sand and desalinated ocean water , to mountainous regions too steep to farm , to Arctic communities and city rooftops . In heavily populated areas where skyrocketing land prices have driven out traditional agriculture , hydroponics can provide locally grown , high-value specialty crops . Hydroponics is highly productive and suitable for automation .”
GLOBAL CONSERVATION
Europeans are also excited about the growth and direction of the industry . Looking at it from London , Commercial Hydroponics ’ web page notes “ even astronauts will use hydroponics ” in their Mars exploration . It further states , “ We believe that the future lies in locally grown and sold produce that limits road miles . The hydroponic method is a more sustainable model than those currently practiced and allows far more flexibility to grow more in a specific place and achieve faster harvests . We support all initiatives to reduce unnecessary energy consumption and lower dependence on fossil fuels along with efficient structures , energy curtains , heat sinks , the correct use of ventilation , and other initiatives . Using bio-fuels and alternative sources of power , such as micro-turbines , will help make the commercial hydroponics industry a viable , long-term one .”
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