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> Controlled-environment agriculture systems such as hydroponics operations can be much more efficient, More efficient than flying it in maybe, but not more e
by jimnotgym 6y ago
> Controlled-environment agriculture systems such as hydroponics operations can be much more efficient,
More efficient than flying it in maybe, but not more efficient than growing it in the garden using sunlight
- kevinmgranger 6y agoI hate unqualified "efficient". They really ought to say in terms of what. Hydroponic vertical growing is more water and ground-space efficient though, isn't it?
- mcescalante 6y agoAgreed, wish they qualified "efficient". Another example may be that hydroponic growing is typically faster than in soil, for example leafy lettuce such as bibb can be ready nearly twice as fast when grown with hydroponics.
- busterarm 6y agoI always love seeing these examples where peoples' hopes and dreams easily overcome their ability to perform basic math. There is simply no beating the energy output of the sun for agriculture purposes. These systems are certainly worth study, but as a commercial operation it's basically snake oil.
- JoeAltmaier 6y agoCertainly for commodities at scale, no beating the agricultural infrastructure. But for a premium produce for a premium product, it can pay. You may not even be able to get from a grocery store, what you can grow for your own needs.
- AlanSE 6y agoCompanies are already selling LED growing units for inside the home for food (like aero-garden). The interest is there, what's missing is for it to make significant inroads into the grocery/restaurant food chain.
- busterarm 6y agoYes, but you can also grow that premium produce with traditional agriculture at a lower cost than these alternatives. It's just that most big farms want the most cost-effective use of their land. There's an argument that this process facilitates some market for people to pay a premium for produce grown inefficiently, but people also pay a premium for their local farmers markets to grow exotic stuff too. Traditional agriculture still wins, all things being equal. I dabbled in Aquaponics for 10+ years.
- JoeAltmaier 6y agoMost restaurants don't have a farm. And land costs are quite high right now - out here in Iowa it averages $7500 per acre. Most of it not for sale anyway. Planting/harvesting machines can be half a million. The flexibility of e-ag may yet have a place. Weather, season, rain don't have to matter.