Hydroponic farming is all about finding the sweet spot within the matrix of factors that influence plant growth – temperature, light, water, and nutrition. High-end greenhouses are designed to manipulate all these variables according to the plant's needs.
Leafy green and vegetable producer Cultura Fresh, however, runs its hydroponic operation outdoors, with only shade netting protecting its crops from the sometimes harsh climate conditions at its two Western Cape sites. Yet they grow between 70 000 (in winter) and 100 000 (in summer) heads of lettuce per week, which are sold in supermarkets and in quick-service food outlets in the Western and Eastern Cape.
"Growing produce in a controlled climate is extremely expensive. Erecting tunnels with plastic covering costs multiple millions of rands," says Kaylee Smit, chief cultivation officer at Cultura Fresh.
"Along with the structure and plastic, you also need fans and a wet wall to control the climate, which adds significantly to both the expense and the running costs, particularly electricity."
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