Hydroponics:
 A Farming Option for Uruguay

Author: Ing. Agr. (M.Sc) Martín Caldeyro Stajano
Hydroponic farmer (Establishment AQUA FOOD)
International Consultant in Hidroponics and Social Projects
President of the Hydroponic Uruguayan Association (Asociación Uruguaya de Hidroponia, ASUDHI)
Article published in Almanaque Year 2000 – Banco de Seguros del Estado del Uruguay.  Edition 75.000 copies)

          INDEX

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1  What is Hydroponics ?
1.2  Why has not been used in Uruguay till now ?
1.3  Hydroponic Production Advantages.  

2. HYDROPONIC POSSIBILITIES IN URUGUAY

2.1  Rural level.
     a. Small Rural Farmers (small areas or farms “minifundios”).
     b. Eroded soils.
     c. Soils affected by diseases which are of difficult eradication.
     d. Commercial crops.
     e. Hydroponic Fodder.

2.2  Urban level .
      2.2.1 Urban Agriculture.
      2.2.2 Social Projects.
          a. Physical and Mental Disabled Persons
          b. Third Age.
          c. Low Income Population.
          d. Educational Centers. 
          e. Rehabilitation of people with social insertion problems.

3. FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

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1.     INTRODUCTION.

1.1.  What is Hydroponics ?

Hydroponics is a technology that permit to produce vegetables without soil, in water or in inert substratum (1), which only supports the roots. The nutrients for the plants development is given by mineral salts dissolved in the water, which is called Nutritive Solution (2) and is applied together with the watering. It allows to grow an ample variety of fruits and vegetables, for instance: lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, celery, aubergines, turnips, leeks, strawberries, melons, flowers, etc.

In our country, up to now, Hydroponics has been considered as a technology that:  

is specifically only apt in regions where there is no soil or water,
   excess of cold or heat, that inhibits the vegetal to grow and for
   these reasons Hydroponics may be effective

it is highly practiced in developed countries, such as Japan,
   United States or Holland;

it is very expensive, but with great benefits;

it is complex and sophisticated, not for us.

For all these reasons, its use in Uruguay has been up to now unthinkable. It is not studied at Superior Educational Centers, neither included in specific agro-research in the country.

1.3  Hydroponic Production Advantages.

What follows is a synthesis of a series of advantages:

the plant finds the best conditions to grow,
sowing times become closer,
no weeds existence,
for these reasons, the use of agro-toxics is reduced or
   eliminated,
high yields,
product stands out. 

2. HYDROPONIC POSSIBILITIES IN URUGUAY. 

Hydroponics has excellent uses in rural areas and also in urban zones. There is a complete lack of information and/or experience on this subject. For this reason some potential uses to be developed in the country are hereby presented.

2.1 Rural level.

a) Small rural farmers (minifundios) : This technology allows to get high yields in reduced areas. It is perfectly adequate for the limited space of the small farmer.

b) Eroded soils. Hydroponics does not require soil, only space is needed; therefore it would allow that some eroded zones of the country could produce vegetables again.

c) Soils with diseases of difficult eradication. There are already areas in the country affected by soil diseases, especially at greenhouses. The use of soil disinfectants, such as Methyl Bromide is required (its use is forbidden in Europe since the year 2000 and in Uruguay at 2005). Hydroponics does not require the use of these agro-toxics, since there is no diseases at the root level.

d) Commercial crops.
Commercial crops as lettuce, and flowers are already being developed in greenhouses, for its excellent quality. It can also be adapted to ornamental nurseries, forests, etc. 

e) Hydroponic Fodder.
The production of hydroponic forage provides food for dairy and meat cattle, horses, etc. This forage is of the highest quality and nutritional value.




2.2 Urban Level.

This is the most innovative aspect and fundamental characteristic of Urban Agriculture.

2.2.1) Urban Agriculture.
Hydroponics is ideal for vegetable production in urban and peri-urban areas; it is an answer to the urbanization and modernization process, as long as it means a return to nature.

Hydroponics allows the use of spaces, that up to now has not been profitable, because it does not require any soil, just a space that receives sunlight. Besides, knowledge has been acquired in order to plant in reduced spaces, such at  family level, in: terraces, balconies, windows, walls, roofs.

Urban Agriculture, among others, has the following benefits:

to consume vegetables with real taste, without agro-toxics, etc.
to increase vegetables consumption, and therefore improving
  diets,
to consume fresh and natural products,
to reduce the cost of the family diet,
to promote a family income,
it gathers the family on the same activity,
it contributes to get closer to nature.
it makes the cities more beautiful, when balconies, roofs, yards
  and gardens are full of plants and flowers.

 
2.2.2) Social Projects :

a) Physically and mentally disabled persons.
This technology can be a brilliant solution to limitations of this population. For instance, someone in a wheelchair can cultivate plants that grow at a table level, with no problem at all.
It has also other advantages, such as stimulating their approach to nature, to feel useful and more integrated to the community and even to be able to receive an income. We have started an experience in Montevideo.

b)Third Age.
This technique is also valid for this population, when they are unable to make great efforts, or bending down. Hydroponics at a table level is ideal, with identical advantages as in the previous case.  

c) Low income population.
There is a low cost technological package for Urban Hydroponics,  for low income population, which has been developed in Colombia. This technological package was taken by FAO, in order to diffuse it  in the rest of Latin America, as a strategy to overcome poverty. By this means, families can produce their fruits and vegetables, at a very low cost and in a very simple way. Leftover or recycled materials can be used for this production, that is ideal for these populations.

Hydroponics crops, may promote income to contribute to the family economy, allowing them to commercialize what they do not need for their own consumption. There are already some examples in Uruguay.

d) Educational Centers.
It is shocking to see a lettuce growing in the water. This awakens the curiosity to children and adults too; and leads to reasoning. For this reason  in some countries, Hydroponics is used to stimulate populations in school and high school. Some experiences have started in our country, at kindergarten, schools and high schools.

e) Recuperation of populations with social insertion problems.
There are many other uses for Hydroponics, due to its renovating effect that allows to increase self-esteem and to be nearer to nature. It is being used in other countries with populations of drug addicts, prisoners, etc.

¿ Why Hydroponics has not been developed before in Uruguay ?

In first place, because exists a strongly rooted concept in Uruguay, “ land and water are abundant and un-expensive ”. This is a big prejudice against Hydroponics.

The second reason, is the lack of information, these techniques and benefits had been totally unknown in the country. We are promoting pilot experiences in the fields above mentioned.

The third aspect was the unavailability of the hydroponic technology and experience (nutritive solution and other aspects) in Uruguay. Today exists. 

3. FUTURE PERSPECTIVES.

Hydroponics is already working in Uruguay. There are farmers that use this technique, there are families that are producing at their homes and there is several social projects on the way. These experiences will have a multiplying effect on the common population, with all the advantages that the technique can offer in production, nutrition, etc.

The existence of the Asociación Uruguaya de Hidroponia (ASUDHI) (Uruguayan Hydroponic Association), gathering people interested in Hydroponics, contributes to the development of the sector.

Countries of the MERCOSUR (Brasil, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile) cultivate with Hydroponics since some years ago. They have the advantage of existence of Research Centers and Universities where Hydroponics is being tested. It will therefore be vital for the future, that the research Institutions in Uruguay may contribute to the betterment of the Hydroponic technology, in order that it may be still better adapted to the country conditions and so it will also be better applied.

Vocabulary:

(1) Substratum: the solid condition for the rooting of the plant.

(2) Nutritive Solution: water with mineral salts added. Ideally it is a
      solution that provides all mineral elements essential for plant
      growth.