Hydroponics: Sustainable agriculture for water saving

During the last few years, hydroponics has gained special relevance as an alternative to produce food with greater efficiency and resource savings. Hydroponic systems reduce water use by up to 90% because water can be recycled and reused. Irrigation alone saves around 40%, in addition to reducing production costs due to the reduction in the use of fertilizers, pesticides, energy, land and agricultural machinery.

In this way, hydroponic crops are a sustainable alternative in the fight against climate change, environmental alteration and the degradation of ecosystems, products of the overexploitation caused by traditional agriculture.

This also results in obtaining more ecological food, with all its nutrients and available at any time of the year, due to the regulation of artificial light.

According to Berkshire Hathaway estimates, the global hydroponics market will reach 725 million dollars by next year, with an annual growth rate of 18% and will grow at a rate of 22.5% by 2025, so it represents a good investment trend.

Hydroponics cultivation

Hydroponic systems dispense with soil to replace it with a water solution enriched with certain nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sulfur and magnesium, among others, such as organic fertilizers.

In addition, since the vertical model is frequently used, it is possible to install it anywhere, even in small spaces, making it possible to grow one’s own vegetables at home, since it is a system that can be adapted to any type of space and conditions.

An example of this is the company Nexton, which produces fruits and vegetables using vertical cultivation techniques, more specifically indoors, and maintains the necessary temperatures for their cultivation at any time of the year. In this way, hydroponic agriculture makes it possible to produce up to ten times more crops than traditional agriculture.

Currently, the company produces up to 300 tons of leafy vegetables and up to 100 tons of strawberries annually. In addition, it has raised a total of $880,000 in funding from KB Investment and SEMA Translink Investment.

Today, many growers have adopted hydroponic cultivation, but in addition, there are the self-consumption growers, i.e., those who have their own garden at home, which is a way to help with the household economy, but also to ensure one’s own food safety and security.

Among the main crops obtained through hydroponic systems are: tomato, lettuce, bell pepper and cucumber, since they are highly demanded foods, their profitability is high.