During these times of STAGFLATION such as what is occurring all over the globe, my research has more than qualified my impetus for the absolute need for food security from planting to harvesting to market distribution. When one is seeking a good, viable and sustainable product or service it is our economic, capitalistic nature to find what is called a "niche product that fits within a niche market.' Plausibly this kind of maneuvering helps promote a strong, mythology for operational success and a solid return on investment (ROI) suiting the prominence of duplication and expansion.
Why Hydroponics? A quick overview might illustrate why you and I are having discussions! The MITIGATION of water! My personal mantra has always been what I call "Food, Fire (electricity) and Water" Why they are ALL a niche product and they ALL fit into a niche market, and that means every single day as we all need food and have become accustomed to eating at least three times a day, drinking enough water to satisfy or body's hydration need. Hydroponic growing on a commercial level is done on an Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) which has been proven the ability to produce high quality, sustainable food ANYWHERE. It offers better, faster results, lower impact that will offer a 'community connection' which will provide local communities fresh, vegetables, greens, and herbs. Gourmet quality, pesticide free, and will virtually eliminate the number one cause that affects the freshness of the produce and that is long-haul 'food miles.'
It is the method of growing plants without the use of soil-providing ALL nutrients and naturally-occurring beneficial microbes in a water delivered based solution. Uses 90% or more less water. 70% less fertilizer. Depending upon the crop it will produce 10-15X crops per acre. Benefits and advantages are many: by providing constant and readily available nutrition, hydroponics allows plants to grow up to 50% faster than they do in soil. Biologically active nutrient solution provides all beneficial microbes found in nature-enhancing plant vigor, quality, and nutritional content. All solution is recaptured and reused, resulting in ZERO discharge or runoff or leaching of any kind.
Now for third feature of my 'mantra' and that is 'fire or power.' CEA is to provide protection and maintain an optimal growing constant conditions throughout the development of the crop(s) all being indoors. Grown with no climate change threat, cyclical weather seasons, allows for year round production, can be located virtually any location/climate, grown close to markets/distribution (reduces carbon footprint) and the key I personally seek is to have an immediate 'Community Connection.' The system in which I have decided to proceed with is the ONLY FDA approved, food grade HDPE growing channels available in the industry.
Point being is no matter what is a cause for a interruption, disruption etc. We all have to eat and be able not only as a individual but an individual within a local community should be educated in how to grow for your own or your family needs or support a localized growing
enterprise that doesn't have to be forced to up sell or down sell because of outside influences. So, all this being shared brings me to the important element of what is needed to grow, and that is WATER! I can certainly get much more proven data but lets look at several examples. One head of lettuce grown outside, open to numerous forces of nature takes at least 10 gallons of water versus a hydroponic head of lettuce uses only .7 of one gallon of water a savings of 93%. For a one acre greenhouse growing to commercial capacity will need 6,000 gallon per day or 250 gallons every hour. In case of some kind of unforeseen situation the operation should have at least a two or three day backup water tank.
In gratitude & purpose
Damon