Imagine a world where soil is no longer a requirement for plants to grow, one where there is no need to clear large tracts of land to plant crops and spend a lot of money on farm inputs like fertilizers, most of which go to waste. That is the vision of the Hydroponics project being run in the Design Lab under watch of their very able project lead, Major Kadonzvo. Under this system, plants are grown in cultured solutions under controlled conditions where they are given just the right amount of nutrients necessary for growth. This method is proving to be an efficient way of growing and producing micro-greens, which are young and tender forms of everyday plants. An interesting fact is that studies have shown that these micro-greens have the same nutrient value of full-grown plants, thus, leading to a rise in their demand in the more upscale markets. Meaning that not only is this project environmentally friendly, it provides a whole new market for for young entrepreneurs to target.
This project incorporates the philosophy of vertical farming. That is, the plants are housed on a vertical structure, done to conserve space. As at the writing of this piece, the team has completed building the electronics section. The main structure on which the plants are housed however, sustained some damages over the summer break. Thus, the team is thus awaiting funds to complete repairs, after which the project will move on to the next phase.