Thanks to some important technological advancements, our agricultural capacities are able to achieve efficiencies never before conceived possible. When looking at the agriculture industry, hydroponic technology can now be considered as important as the discovery of fossil fuels were during the industrial revolution. There are many advantages of soilless agriculture and hydroponic technology as compared to traditional agriculture. Though our economies of scale are nowhere near the level of traditional agricultural output, the advantages of soilless agriculture do provide tremendous opportunity for us to one day achieve the same level of crop yields – if not more.
This is an important field for us to continue to develop if we want to find the most efficient and environmentally responsible ways to feed our growing urban population.
Primary Advantages of Soilless Agriculture
Some of the most important advantages of soilless agriculture over land-based agriculture include:
- Lowered environmental impact as controlled agriculture is less resource-intensive
- Reduction in water consumption due to the closed-loop nature of hydroponic growing
- Improved health and nutritional value as hydroponically grown produce is better quality
- Lowered concern of chemical, pesticides, and GMO produce
- Ability to scale the agricultural operation to any size of facilitymaking it ideal for practicing urban agriculture
- Maximizing of space constraints through vertical growing techniques
Read more about the advantages of soilless agriculture.
Feature Image: Harvesting vegetables at a smart greenhouse in Xiazhong Village, Zhuji City, China. Image via Zuma Press.
