Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • beats
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    • California Dream
    • Videos
    • Photos
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Roots
    • Eclectic
    • Videos
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight
    • The View From Here
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • Insight Music
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • CapRadio Travels
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support / Underwriting
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Volunteering
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Hydroponics Seen As Future Of California Agriculture

  •  Steve Milne 
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 | Sacramento, CA
Courtesy of General Hydroponics

Lawrence Brooke of General Hydroponics

Courtesy of General Hydroponics

They say a hydroponic greenhouse uses about 10-times less water than a field crop.

"At a time with so much drought, we're going to have to look carefully at the crops we grow in California and the way we grow them," says Lawrence Brooke, the founder of Santa Rosa-based General Hydroponics.

"Most types of plants will grow just fine hydroponically," says Brooke, "and of course the amount of water we use to cultivate crops is much, much less with hydroponics than with conventional agriculture."

Brooke explains the technique is a way of growing plants, not in dirt but in recycled water.

"Hydroponics is simply replacement for the soil itself, nutrition comes through the water stream."

Brooke's company has built hydroponics systems for plant growing facilities in the Arctic, in deserts and in space.

Some critics say hydroponics relies heavily on chemical fertilizers.

And on Insight with Beth Ruyak, Brooke admitted that not all the hydroponic-grown produce you find at the store is very flavorful.

"That happens a lot with hydroponic produce simply because varieties that are chosen by commercial farmers are chosen for shelf life and yield and not for nutrition and flavor. So the produce is going to be as good as the genetics and as the talent of the farmer who grows it."

Brooke is designing a hydroponics system for China right now that he says would feed billions of people.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    More about drought

  • State Of Drought

    Reservoir levels are at historic lows, municipalities are ordering mandatory conservation and farmers are bracing for water shortages. Capital Public Radio has continuous coverage on how Californians are being impacted by the drought.

 drought

Steve Milne

Morning Edition Anchor & Reporter

Steve is the Morning Edition anchor for Capital Public Radio. He covers stories on a wide range of topics including: business, education, real estate, agriculture and music.  Read Full Bio 

Coronavirus Newsletter

Get answers to your questions, the latest updates and easy access to the resources you need, delivered to your inbox.

 

Want to know what to expect? Here's a recent newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

We'll send you weekly emails so you can stay informed about the coronavirus in California.

Browse all newsletters

More Stories

Rich Pedroncelli/AP

Watch: California Health Officials Update On COVID-19 For Jan 12

January 12, 2021

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Why Is This South Sacramento Area A COVID-19 Hot Spot?

January 11, 2021

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

California To Deploy National Guard Ahead Of Expected Demonstrations Leading Up To Inauguration Day

January 14, 2021

Most Viewed

California Throws Open COVID Vaccines To Anyone 65 And Older

When Can I Get A COVID-19 Vaccine? How Will I Find Out? Answers To Your California Vaccine Questions.

California Coronavirus Updates: Extra Vaccine Doses Not Coming To California As Promised By Trump Administration

No, Efforts To Recall California Gov. Newsom Are Not ‘A Coup’

'Many Of Us Narrowly Escaped Death': Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Recounts Capitol Insurrection

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

California Throws Open COVID Vaccines To Anyone 65 And Older

When Can I Get A COVID-19 Vaccine? How Will I Find Out? Answers To Your California Vaccine Questions.

California Coronavirus Updates: Extra Vaccine Doses Not Coming To California As Promised By Trump Administration

No, Efforts To Recall California Gov. Newsom Are Not ‘A Coup’

'Many Of Us Narrowly Escaped Death': Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Recounts Capitol Insurrection

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2021, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.