Hydroponic Farming on Long Island
In a Fox 5 News report about big ideas, Stacey Delikat does a newscast entitled “Hydroponics: A Farming Revolution.” This broadcast describes the hydroponic farming technique of Gabrielsen Farms in Riverhead LI. According to Delikat, in a 300,000 square foot greenhouse, this growing system is sparking a farming revolution. She reports that “(h)ydroponic farming, growing plants indoors, without soil, originated more than 60 years ago, but it was only recently the practice took off” The owner of Gabrielsen Farms, Carl Gabrielsen, use to grow flowers seasonally, but now grows vegetables and herbs annually. Using the hydroponic growing system, Gabrielsen Farms can grow food faster and with less water than the traditional field system. Carl Gabrielsen states that, in growing a head of lettuce, the hydroponic system allows them to use up to 99% less water than the field technique.
Given the climate impacts of global warming, urban population growth, and the demand for healthier food, we need to find new ways to grow food. Hydroponic farming is a sustainable solution. This system of growing food has the potential to revolutionize urban agriculture. Given the lack of soil, which is heavier than water, hydroponics can be used to grow food on rooftops. It can also be used in the vertical farming technique advocated by Dr. Dickson Despommier. Using LED lights, we can grow food like Gabrielsen Farms indoors in what is called “building integrated agriculture.” Such a process can help us make better use of limited urban space, bringing farming into the city.
