"Why not move towards hydroponics in Africa"

JB Hydroponics in Maasdijk has seen 95% of its business going across international borders. It seems that global horticulture is increasingly seeing the benefit of hydroponic cultivation. Using substrates in cultivation always ensures clean 'ground', as the ideal base, without diseases or contamination. Less waste, higher yield and an efficient labour market justify the investment. JB Hydroponics was quick to jump on the Hydroponic train and has been exporting styrofoam, steel and polypropylene gutter systems, substrates and container systems for years.

Substrates come in many shapes and sizes. Material is of the essence. Natural or artificial? Peat, perlite, sand, coconut or just Rockwool? The choice mostly relies on preferences. Natural substrates can sometimes be cheaper, while some artificial materials have a significantly longer life. CEO Job Bossers: "Some growers want their products to be 100% natural. That rules out rock wool, foam and the like. We currently run a production unit in Sri Lanka for Coco Press, a natural substrate based on coconut."

Given all the obvious advantages, it’s hard to understand why not all growers opt for hydroponic cultivation. Drain water dissipation is maximized, disease transmission is prevented and the container is always kept perfectly clean. "Efficient economic and sustainable solutions, that is what we look for," concludes Bossers. "There is the added benefit of reuse of water and fertilizer. Africa, to name just one example, has many polluted lands. Why not move cultivation to substrates?"