Hydroponics is often thought to be synonymous with “indoor growing,” although some hydroponic gardens are actually grown outdoors or in greenhouses. What makes it distinct from others is its use of soilless root media. In traditional farming or growing, nutrients are primarily delivered to plants through the roots. Hydroponics uses a variety of growing media, such as Rockwool, coconut fiber, perlite, and lightweight expanded clay aggregate. Michael Straumietis, Founder and CEO of Advanced Nutrients, explores the various reasons why hydroponics plays a huge role in the future of farming.
Hydroponics Market Growth
More and more farmers and growers are turning to hydroponics. In 2020, it was estimated that the global market size for hydroponics would reach $10.2 billion. It is poised to continue to grow, with a forecasted increase of 11.3 percent in CAGR from 2022 to 2007. In the U.S., approximately 58 percent of survey respondents deemed hydroponic farms profitable.
Meanwhile, the European Union has developed hydroponic programs with the help of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. It has helped push the hydroponics market forward in the region.
Many industries worldwide have taken significant hits because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the demand for hydroponic farming is continuing to grow, as Mike Straumietis has seen. Even the pandemic failed to hinder the fast expansion of this method of farming practice.
Global Demand for Food
One of the major reasons hydroponics is not poised to slow down is the ever-increasing demand for food across the world. Several nations have prioritized food production and distribution systems, which underscores the importance of supporting alternative growing methods, such as hydroponics. In addition to these things, alternate systems for growing can positively impact market or transportation logistics. It stands to reason then that demand for hydroponics will continue to rise.
Moreover, Mike Straumietis has noticed that there is a growing preference for exotic fruits and vegetables as more people practice a healthy lifestyle, and consumers have seen an increase in their purchasing power. Most exotic produce is imported from faraway locations. Because of this, research institutions and universities have been seeking ways to boost the production of these types of fruits and vegetables to meet the growing demand while lessening the costs involved with their production and transport.
Aside from exotic produce, consumers have started looking for more fresh vegetables in general. Even fast-food chains like KFC and Burger King have begun serving leafy vegetables in their selections. Enter hydroponics. As Mike Straumietis of Advanced Nutrients has seen, leafy vegetables have gained significant popularity among hydroponics growers. Some vegetable types that have become prevalent in hydroponic gardens include lettuce, spinach, kale, and arugula.
Increased Control over Harvest Outcomes
Hydroponics also offers several advantages over traditional methods of farming. It can assist growers in producing larger yields of higher-quality fruits and vegetables as well as a steady annual production that cannot be matched by utilizing soil, growing in the open air or greenhouses with only natural light, or using indoor gardening techniques.
Additionally, crops are not exposed to pathogens, such as germs and diseases, that can reside in the soil. Mike Straumietis states that in a hydroponic garden that uses sterile root zone media and a controlled environment that maximizes growth potential, plants are better protected and are likely to produce maximum yield.
For these reasons, along with growers being able to practice hydroponics more intensively and with more crop cycles, it is easier to control harvest outcomes. Growers can then harvest more products that are of higher quality.
About Mike Straumietis and Advanced Nutrients
Advanced Nutrients, a company founded by Mike Straumietis, is comprised of highly skilled scientists who have developed a wide range of next-generation products that provide plants with nourishment in every phase of their cycle. These products have helped growers in more than 110 countries in unlocking the genetic potential of their crops. In fact, Advanced Nutrients developed the first complete growing system that maximizes all the phases of a plant’s vegetative and bloom cycles.