We’ve talked a lot about vertical farming recently, but hydroponic farming is another term you may need to familiarise yourself with. Hydroponic farming is the name for growing plants in water, without soil, using mineral nutrient solutions. Stone wool is a commonly used medium in hydroponic systems, but it does have some limitations. GelPonics products are an alternative solution to stone wool and can offer farmers many benefits.
Understanding Stone Wool and Its Drawbacks
As we explain in our blog “What is stone wool made of”, stone wool is a lightweight substance made from molten basaltic rock spun into delicate fibres that are then moulded into various products. Stone wool is widely used in agriculture to enhance root zone technology.
However, stone wool has environmental concerns, such as its non-biodegradability and disposal challenges. Stone wool has a high carbon footprint and does not degrade, which means it can be hard to dispose of.
Other limitations associated with stone wool include issues with water retention, pH fluctuations and an uneven distribution of nutrients.
Introducing GelPonics: What It Is and How It Works
GelPonics is a range of non-synthetic hydrogel formulations that can be used as an alternative to stone wool. GelPonics products are manufactured from low-carbon, sustainable materials, emphasising their water-absorbing capacity, nutrient retention and distribution.
Gelponics is made from standard low-carbon materials, meaning it protects peat land and offers farmers a more stable supply chain. It also does not require energy-intensive processing for manufacture, meaning it produces less CO2 than stone wool.
Advantages of GelPonics over Stone Wool
Using GelPonics as your plant growth medium rather than stone wool will give you access to hydrogels’ improved water retention capabilities – enhancing crop growth. You will also access the optimised nutrient delivery system of GelPonics, which will positively impact crop productivity. GelPonics products will also provide you with uniformity and stability in terms of pH and nutrient distribution.
One of the most important benefits of switching to GelPonics is its reduced environmental footprint, giving you easy access to more sustainable farming practices.
Future Prospects
There is a growing need to radically improve crop production systems globally due to an ever-increasing population and an aim to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture. Vertical farming is an alternative to traditional agriculture that is touted as a potential problem solver, especially in water-stressed or urban areas. With this in mind, we continue developing our graphene-based GelPonics system to offer farmers an affordable, long-lasting, reusable, water-saving plant media that filters out pathogens.
Using our product in a vertical farming environment and investing in renewable energy technologies, sensors, and controls will reduce carbon emissions and ultimately decarbonise the industry.
As you can see, many benefits are associated with using GelPonics rather than stone wool, including being 100% recycled, reusable and recyclable. Our product and its potential for sustainable agriculture show a bright future for farming.
If you have any questions about our work or are interested in collaborating with us, please contact us at 07867 502247 or at info@aehinnovativehydrogel.com
