that are primarily based on hydroponics culture are of great interest in modern cities. And I think hydroponics could be one of the most important ways for us to increase food production at a scale that is needed without using vast land areas that traditional agriculture requires. But, the waste generation from hydroponic-based urban farms is a concerning area.
After talking to these farmers, I realized that these substrates that are being used are a significant source of solid waste that urban farms produce, as urban farmers mostly go for very cheap options - and tend to fall back on materials like discarded polyurethane foams. There is a significant waste stream that is unsustainable for urban farming.
Simultaneously, with the most basic version that we have, I'm hoping to start testing out the feasibility of using those for some existing crops on a commercial farm. I'm in touch with some interested industry farmers; We will, of course, start testing on a smaller scale. The point is to use these in a real atmosphere inside the farm, not within a laboratory setting. I want to subject the sponges to outside elements and see how they behave.
Professor Woei adds that we need to think broadly, beyond our comfort zone. "Only then we can further exploit resources around us that we're not thinking of, or reading about. We haven't really looked at the other waste streams that we've been producing as a society. It would be helpful if everyone could look into our own lives and check what we can reuse and recycle to achieve greater sustainability in all aspects of life.