Between the years of 2017 and 2022, 141,733 farms within the United States of America (US) were closed down. (USDA [United States Department of Agriculture], 2022) An increasing population that is expected to become urban dwellers combined with decreasing agricultural land cause reasonable concern for food scarcity. What is not short of supply are the abandoned or underutilized buildings spread across the nation that have the potential to give back to the community. Providing year-round produce, hydroponic farms produce a higher yield and require a fraction of the space and resources a traditional farm requires. As the number of family owned farms are replaced by large corporations, local hydroponic farms provide the community with transparency and honest information about where and how annual produce is grown.
What is Hydroponic Farming?
Soil-less farming is a method that requires nutrient rich water to grow crops or vegetables
Systems of hydroponic farming include:
Aeroponics, Aquaponics, Nutrient Film Technique, Drip system and Deep Water Culture
Breif History of Hydroponic Farming
Early poetic descriptions describe the earliest example of hydroponic farming
Discussed the idea of growing plants without soil
William Frederick Gericke coined the term “hydroponic” (1937)
Currently, hydroponic farming systems can effectively address issues related to soil degradation, limited water availability, and mitigate some risks associated with climate change. Key factors contributing to soil quality decline include unsustainable agricultural practices, the expansion of crop production, and overgrazing (Krasilnikov & Nachtergaele, 2016).
Hydroponic farms operate without the necessity of soil, making them suitable for implementation in urban environments where traditional soil-based agriculture may not be feasible.
Water consumption in a hydroponic system requires 70-80% less water than a traditional farm because the water does not need to be absorbed deep into the soil (Kannan,Elavarasan,& Balamurugan, et al., 2022). This system also allows indoor hydroponic gardens to recycle the water that would have been originally lost.
Common Crops
Herbs
Vegetables
Strawberries
Cut Flowers
The Food Security Theoretical Framework directly relates to the establishment of a hydroponic food system for the Grand Rapids community (Figure 1). This framework effectively demonstrates how the system can provide high-quality products while addressing the specific needs of the community. It encompasses four key pillars: access, availability, utilization, and sustainability.
How can underutilized buildings in Grand Rapids be repurposed to address unmet food needs within the local community through the use of indoor hydroponic systems?
Hydroponic farms can provide fresh and nutritious produce year-round, even when traditional farms are inactive. With the right equipment and management, these farms can be integrated into older or underutilized industrial buildings, breathing new life into these spaces. While there are challenges in determining how different hydroponic systems can effectively contribute nutritional value to the community, the diversity of methods available allows for tailored solutions based on the desired crops. Ultimately, embracing hydroponic farming not only addresses food accessibility but also fosters innovation and sustainability, paving the way for a healthier and more resilient community.
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