Hydroponics: are we moving towards that direction only because of the environment? A discussion on forecasting and a systems review

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2019 May;26(13):12662-12672. doi: 10.1007/s11356-019-04933-5. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Abstract

During the evolution of the human, agriculture and land utilization was inevitably connected with survival in nature. Human activity was not only restricted to the production of agricultural products but also extended into many other sectors, such as the production of several industrial-made products, mining, and usage of fossil fuels as a standard method of generating electricity. However, the intense urbanization phenomenon ultimately caused, during the last few decades, the degradation of our natural environment. As a result, the quality (and quantity) of produced food we consume has significantly decreased. The need for the evolution of alternative methods of cultivation is constant and always a hot topic, especially in order to confront the multiple problems that conventional agriculture has. Hydroponics, an innovative cultivation method, comes to solve many of these problems.

Keywords: Energy footprint; Forecasting; Hydroponics; Urban agriculture.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Agricultural Irrigation / instrumentation
  • Agricultural Irrigation / methods
  • Conservation of Natural Resources
  • Hydroponics / economics
  • Hydroponics / instrumentation*
  • Hydroponics / methods*
  • Renewable Energy