A Deep Concern About World Poverty

International Consultants to Practical Hydroponics and Greenhouses claims that Hydroponics are, “a good alternative for producing safer urban crops.” There are many cases available through the International Consultants to Practical Hydroponics and Greenhouses website that offer evidence to support the claim that hydroponic farming in an urban setting is both environmentally beneficial and a viable source of food.

The following are the benefits as outlined by International Consultants to Practical Hydroponics and Greenhouses. The following has been taken from: http://www3.telus.net/public/a6a47567/Food%20Security.pdfv. For more information contact aquafood@chasque.net or vist www.chasque.net/aquafood

• Isolation from soil. Planting takes place at a convenient height, where soil pollution has no impact. Plants are grown in water containers or in low–cost natural substrates (sand, rice husk, pumice, etc.). With this system, it is possible to grow a vast range of vegetables, for example, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, celery, watercress eggplants, beans, parsley, wild radish, leeks, strawberries, melons, aromatic and medicinal plants, etc.
• Use of limited space. One of its main advantages of hydroponics is the possibility of using urban spaces which until now had not been considered adequate for growing food
• High efficiency in the use of irrigation water. Water is recycled and does not pollute the environment.
• Pest, disease and weed control. Hydroponic systems facilitate the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. There is also a significant reduction in the use of chemicals once used to control pests and weeds. Moreover, neither the produce nor the environment is contaminated by chemicals.
• Higher yields and shorter times between harvests. Hence, total output is greater than the case of conventional soil systems.
• Easy to learn. The technique is easy to understand, it does not require prior knowledge and concrete results are achieved quickly.
• Potential use of recycled materials. It is possible to use recycled materials to build growing systems. Subsequently, growers can use materials they already have on hand, e.g. wood, disposable packaging materials.
• Source of income from direct sales. It promotes family or community owned micro-enterprises.
• Food is of a high quality. Fruit and vegetables have a high biological and dietary value. Crops for household consumption are harvested when they are ready to be used. Hence, produce is fresh and has its nutritional and medicinal properties intact (vitamins, minerals, phyto-nutrients, etc).