NL: Bram Steiner (95), founding father of hydroponics, dies
Bram Steiner. Foto: KLV Wageningen Alumni Network
During his research period at the research station in Naaldwijk (the Netherlands) – where he was posted by TNO – he founded the Contact Group Soilless Plant Culture (1975). In his research he focused on the composition of nutrient solutions.
After transition to the Royal Society of Agricultural Science the group was called Study Circle for Soilless Plant Culture where it got a scientific base.
Bram was chairman of the study circle and he organized a meeting twice a year to enable the members to share knowledge in this new specialism.
In the same period he organized 9 congresses as chairman of the International Society of Soilless Culture (ISOSC).
In 2000 ISOSC was integrated into the ISHS (International Society for Horticultural Science, commission Plant Substrates).
The “Bram Steiner Award” – a biennial prize for the best publication about nutrients in soilless culture - was named after him.
As long as he could, he followed the ups and downs in soilless culture. Despite his age, two years ago he was present at the presentation of the (up till now) last Bram Steiner Award.
