Food for thought III

In Food for thought II reasons and conditions for change in the technical division of agriculture have been listed. For those who have done research at independent (i.e. non-corporate) sources concerning efficient out-of-the-box agriculture methods, it will not come as a surprise that aeroponic growing renders the highest yields of healthy crop. This method has been selected by NASA to feed astronauts that spend longer periods of time in space.

Failure is not an option in space, because besides nutrition pills there is no alternative means of supply of food. The type of aeroponics used by NASA however has one disadvantage – there is no gravity to make constructions functional. It means that ultrasonic transducers can not be used to produce a fog that is needed to transport nutrients to the plant root system. Instead the NASA system uses a pump and nozzles to produce a spray.

The disadvantage of nozzles is that they tend to clog and produce a spray that consists of droplets that are too coarse to qualify for true aeroponic standards. True aeroponics uses droplets smaller than 10 micron. Droplets larger than 10 micron will not bounce off the roots at which the nozzle jets its spray and will form a film of water around the roots, thereby blocking access to the roots for oxygen.

Oxygen is important for the metabolism of crops. In view of this it is necessary to know that before the industrial revolution (in the 1800's) the earth atmosphere contained 30% of oxygen. Due to pollution that level today has dropped to between 17 and 20%. When it drops below 10% humans will suffocate. The same goes for plants. The lack of oxygen makes them grow slower and weakens their immune system. Of course this is never mentioned in treacherous mainstream media, because the pharmaceutical industry thrives on sick people (because it is run by mentally sick people).

Oxygen must be transported in the phloem inside the stem of plants. Energy is required for that and this energy must be transported. To make this possible negative ions are also required. ATP(adenosine triphosphate) is the cell fuel molecule that makes cells work. So supplying oxygen alone is not enough, negative ions also have to be supplied.

Contrary to popular belief aeroponics is not unnatural as mainstream media would have you believe. Today orchids and mangrove trees still grow according to the aeroponic principle. Most plants can be grown very efficiently in a similar way. Efficiency does not stop here in aeroponic growing. All benefits will be listed below and explained in detail where necessary in the next 'Food for thought' blog entry.

Aeroponics makes the following possible that are not or to lesser degree present in soil based growing methods:

1. Accurate control of supply of water, nutrients, ions and oxygen
2. Independence of seasonal influences and daylight sequence
3. Significant reduction of energy and water consumption
4. Reduction of waste products
5. No need to supply pesticides, bactericides, fungicides and fertilizers
6. Stacked growing arrangements in multiple stories
7. Indoor growing inside or close to urban areas
8. Improved protection against pollution, disease, fallout and theft
9. Improved protection against geophysical disaster
10. Improved protection against climatic disaster

The above mentioned leads to the following advantages:

11. Higher yield
12. Healthier produce
13. Tastier produce
14. Clean roots
15. Lower logistic cost
16. Lower commuter expense of workers
17. No soil degradation due to monoculture
18. Can largely be run on 12 Volt

Farmers and investors are encouraged to study these matters intesively and seriously consider how to transit from soil based growing to aeroponic growing. We do not just bear responsibility for the current situation, but also for the generations that will come after us. More detailed information in the next 'Food for thought' blog entry that will be posted soon.