In modern agriculture, the type of soil used for growing crops is not the only factor that determines the success of a farm. In fact, many farmers and growers are turning to alternative methods of growing, such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and container gardening. One important aspect of these methods is the growing media used, which serves as a substitute for traditional soil.
Soilless plant-growing media is used in horticulture to nurture an ever-growing number of food crops. It's become an important part of raising food in a sustainable manner, and demand for growing media is increasing rapidly. Interest in how food is grown and the impact of growing practices on the environment is also growing.
"As populations continue to grow and populations continue to urbanize and food product continues to be shifted more closely to those urban, then a lot of emphasis will be placed on growing media and how that's placed into food production and food security," said Dr. Brian Jackson, North Carolina State University researcher.
Another reason for the increase in demand for plant-growing media is the role that growers and researchers have in combating climate change. One way in which growing media can contribute to this effort is by fulfilling three key objectives outlined in the United Nations climate change checklist.
Read more at ICL