When using traditional growing methods, an acre of land can equal an acre of vegetables. With hydroponics, depending on how high you’re willing to go, an acre of land can grow as many vegetables as you’d like.
Hydroponic gardening is fast becoming a priority for environmentally conscious people and companies, and it’s not hard to see why – it’s estimated that the food we eat contributes to almost a third of our global carbon footprint.
With the current trends of agricultural food production and consumption impacting our environment so extensively, many people are looking for alternative ways to grow and source their food.
While the initial setup costs can be high, the rewards on a personal and global level are endless. Here are five of the biggest benefits of hydroponic growing for the environment and humanity.
Reduced Fossil Fuels
When fruits and vegetables are out of season in a country, those items will be sourced from across the globe, with food often travelling thousands of miles to arrive on a plate. Airplane, cruise and truck travel contribute significantly to fossil fuels, and it is becoming increasingly necessary to reevaluate how we produce and distribute our food on a mass scale.
Hydroponics remove that need to source food from other countries, allowing you to create your own mini environment and controlled climate as well as a smarter way of distributing food. If gardens can be grown in the middle of a city, there is less need for food to travel the long distance to your table.
Less Need for Pesticides
While no garden is completely safe from pests, the controlled soilless environments of hydroponics makes them less of a risk. With so many harmful pesticides available on the market, less pesticides are a win for human health and the environment.
With controlled growing environments, growers can get more innovative with their control of pests, like introducing natural predators or toxin free plant nutrients into the setup. This means less chemicals are ending up in our plants, food and waterways.
Increased Water Conservation
Traditional agriculture accounts for around 70% of the world’s water use, and much of that can be lost in the soil. Despite relying on water-based solutions instead of soil, hydroponics can use less water when compared to regular farming!
More Resourceful Farming Practices
The beauty of hydroponics is that you are not at the mercy of your environment, meaning areas with little access to natural resources can still grow fresh food. Hydroponics doesn’t discriminate by region – as long as you set it up properly, you can grow a garden in the middle of a desert or underneath a bustling city.
Hydroponics can also feed more mouths in less time and using less space.
As you are able to control ideal growth factors like light and moisture, you can grow a greater quantity and variety of plants at a faster rate, and due to the vertical nature of hydroponic setups, you can experience high yields in a small area.
Less Land Erosion
The quality of land can be left devastated after agricultural land farming. Hydroponics can remove this consequence entirely, as farms can be set up in currently developed areas.
Improved Quality and Health
Hydroponic farms have the ability to be widely dispersed in cities and barren areas, giving communities better access to local fruits and vegetables. Without the need to import products from distant countries, the produce is likely to be cheaper, fresher, and exposed to less chemicals. On a global scale, this can have wide-reaching effects on the health of communities.
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