Why Hydroponics Is Important

If you’ve read any of my previous posts about hydroponics, you’ll know that I’m a massive fan of the method.

Today, I’ve pulled together my list of 5 reasons why hydroponics is important not just to home growers but as a possible method of feeding the world!

Let’s get started.

5 Reasons Why Hydroponics Is Important

Below are a few of the reasons why I consider hydroponics to be so crucial to the future of both farming and getting rid of world hunger once and for all.

1. Crops Grow Anywhere

For me, what I like most about hydroponics is that crops can be grown anywhere so long as there’s water and a light source, and because plants are grown in a controlled environment, they aren’t affected by environmental factors such as temperature, soil type, sunlight and nutrient availability.

What this means from a practical point of view is that no matter the outside environment, your plants will continue to grow so long as you provide them with adequate nutrients, water and light.

It’s not just climate that limits the ability to grow crops. For many places around the world, they have perfect weather to grow fruits and vegetables but there’s one thing holding them back – soil quality.

As we wrote in our recent post on why hydroponics is better than soil, because you don’t need soil to provide your plants with the nutrients that they need then you aren’t limited as to where you can grow plants.

This brings us nicely to our following reason hydroponics is important…

2. Food Security and The World Hunger

According to World Vision, 690 million people regularly go to bed hungry. This is a huge problem and it’s something that certainly shouldn’t be happening in today’s day and age.

A large part of this is that they either can’t afford food or their location doesn’t allow them to be self-sufficient.

This is where hydroponics comes in.

As we’ve just leaned, hydroponic systems can be basically set up anywhere which means that it has the potential to allow people to start growing and sustaining themselves.

The best part is that they don’t even need electricity. The wick system is a passive hydroponic set up that doesn’t require any moving parts and can even be made from a few simply bits of trash!

3. Higher Food Production and Yields

As we touched on in a previous article when looking at why hydroponics is useful for crop cultivation, because it’s a controlled system, you provide your plants with just the right amounts of light, nutrients, water and space in order to grow as big and as quick as possible.

Hydroponics systems have zero weeds which means your plants aren’t having to compete for nutrients as they would in the soil.

The result is that you see a real increase in food production not just because plants are growing quicker but also due to the fact that you can harvest multiple crops in a single ‘traditional’ season.

4. Lower Pesticide Usage

Soil is incredibly complex and is home to many different species of insects and unfortunately, some of these bugs have a taste for the plants you grow!

Not just that, but because your plants are out in the open, bugs can fly in from miles around to feast on your crops.

This has led many farmers and growers to turn to chemical pesticides to keep unwanted bugs at bay.

A study published in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health titled ‘Impact of pesticides use in agriculture: their benefits and hazards’ found:

Pesticide contamination poses significant risks to the environment and non-target organisms ranging from beneficial soil microorganisms, to insects, plants, fish, and birds. Contrary to common misconceptions, even herbicides can cause harm to the environment. In fact, weed killers can be especially problematic because they are used in relatively large volumes. The best way to reduce pesticide contamination (and the harm it causes) in our environment is for all of us to do our part to use safer, non-chemical pest control (including weed control) methods.

5. Water Efficiency

One of the biggest issues with traditional soil gardening is that there’s a lot of waste.

When you water your plants only a small amount is used by the plant, a significant amount is absorbed into the ground.

With a hydroponics system there’s very little water waste making it much more water efficient.

6. Space Efficiency

Hydroponics offers space efficiency, making it particularly suitable for urban farming and areas with limited arable land. Vertical farming systems, a type of hydroponic setup, utilize vertical space to grow plants in stacked layers. This approach maximizes the use of available space, allowing for high-density cultivation. As urbanization continues and land becomes scarcer, hydroponics provides a solution for growing crops in limited areas, reducing the need for long-distance food transportation and improving local food security.

7. Climate Independence

Another important aspect of hydroponics is its climate independence. Hydroponic systems can be set up in controlled environments, such as greenhouses or indoor facilities, allowing for year-round cultivation regardless of external climate conditions. This climate independence reduces the dependence on favorable weather conditions and expands the possibilities for growing crops in regions with challenging climates. It opens doors to local food production in areas that are traditionally unsuitable for certain crops or during off-seasons.

8. Reduced Environmental Impact

With growing concerns about environmental sustainability, hydroponics offers a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional agriculture. Hydroponic systems minimize the use of synthetic pesticides and herbicides, reducing chemical runoff and environmental contamination. Additionally, by eliminating the need for soil, hydroponics mitigates soil erosion and degradation issues. The efficient resource utilization in hydroponics also leads to reduced water consumption, contributing to water conservation efforts.

9. Enhanced Food Safety

Hydroponics promotes food safety by minimizing the risk of contamination. The controlled environment of hydroponic systems reduces exposure to soil-borne pathogens, such as E. coli and Salmonella, which are a common concern in traditional farming. Moreover, hydroponically grown produce often has fewer pesticide residues, ensuring safer and healthier food options for consumers.

10. Innovation and Technological Advancements

The development of hydroponics has sparked innovation and technological advancements in agriculture. Researchers and entrepreneurs are continuously exploring new techniques, technologies, and plant varieties to optimize hydroponic systems. This drive for innovation has led to the development of more efficient lighting systems, nutrient formulations, automation solutions, and data-driven approaches. The advancements in hydroponics are not only improving crop yields but also paving the way for sustainable and scalable agricultural practices.

Conclusion

Hydroponics is important for numerous reasons. Its efficient resource utilization, maximized crop yields, climate independence, space efficiency, reduced environmental impact, enhanced food safety, and the potential for innovation make it a significant component of modern agriculture. As the world faces the challenges of population growth, limited resources, and environmental sustainability, hydroponics offers a promising solution for sustainable food production and the future of farming.

The Bottom Line

So there you have it, hopefully you now have a much better idea about why hydroponics is important and could be a real solution to solving some of the current issues challenging mankind.

Hydroponics is important for numerous reasons. Its efficient resource utilization, maximized crop yields, climate independence, space efficiency, reduced environmental impact, enhanced food safety, and the potential for innovation make it a significant component of modern agriculture. As the world faces the challenges of population growth, limited resources, and environmental sustainability, hydroponics offers a promising solution for sustainable food production and the future of farming.

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