Will gel replace soil in farms in the future?

[Beny Karachun]

An Israeli startup, Tomgrow (https://tomgrow.io/), developed a new soil substitute, which saves around 90% of all the watering needs.



This allows the future farmer to "plant & forget" his produce, and allows him to only water his plants once or twice every year even when there is little to no rain.

The gel is infused with fertilizers, and can be custom made for each plant, to allow optimal growth.

 

[Oldman1]

View attachment 874295

View attachment 874297



An Israeli startup, Tomgrow (https://tomgrow.io/), developed a new soil substitute, which saves around 90% of all the watering needs.



This allows the future farmer to "plant & forget" his produce, and allows him to only water his plants once or twice every year even when there is little to no rain.

The gel is infused with fertilizers, and can be custom made for each plant, to allow optimal growth.

Could be used on spaceships or on Mars.

 

[Beny Karachun]

Could be used on spaceships or on Mars.

That's the plan of the company, to use it on the moon/mars.

Currently, they're getting through American regulations for food growing. It's already proven to work, they grew Cherry tomatoes with it.

 

[srshkmr]

That's the plan of the company, to use it on the moon/mars.

Currently, they're getting through American regulations for food growing. It's already proven to work, they grew Cherry tomatoes with it.

Great. Will the next phase tested where the food produced will be fed to animals and to observe impact on their health?

 

[Catalystic]

I don’t expect gel to b able to hold strong plants in place. Roots grow in soil, not gels.

 

[Beast]

Gel to grow plant is not something new.

 

[Daylamite Warrior]

Why use gel when compost can be made in abundance with better results? Making things artificially in food usually leads to cancer, then I realised from whence this was invented and it all made sense. Garbage imo.

 

[Beny Karachun]

Why use gel when compost can be made in abundance with better results? Making things artificially in food usually leads to cancer, then I realised from whence this was invented and it all made sense. Garbage imo.

Read lol.

 

[Daylamite Warrior]

View attachment 874337
Read lol.

Easily refutable.

1) The use of sand (John Innes system) and other materials do actually retain water, you just need to have the right material in your compost. Peat used to be the answer but there are peat free alternatives.

2) a myth about compost is that is drains nutrients when in reality it holds nutrients and releases it when the plant needs it.

3) a simple ph test and alkalkne/acid additive can change the soil to whatever PH you want. Lime for alkaline and horse manure for acid.

4) the no dig method of gardening has great aeration and if the ground is too much clay then you can break it before adding compost.

5) a proper irrigation system or just doing your job properly and methodologically can solve uneven watering.

6) false assumption that peat is the only retainer of water.

7) soil doesnt need to be transported when it can be easily made onsite on all farms. The few that does need transporting actually helps keep people in jobs.

8) an expert grower will tell how the plant and roots are by looking at the health of a plant. Only a noob grower would need to look at the roots. When growing en masse, one or two plants can be sacrificed during grow season if the farmer is that desperate to look at the roots...

9) not with proper spacing and santiary practices. Wherever there is moisture there will be bacteria, same with the gel, unless of course we're talking about 'dry moisture'?! LOL!

 

[Beny Karachun]

Great. Will the next phase tested where the food produced will be fed to animals and to observe impact on their health?

Yes, although I've seen a video of the scientists just eating picking a tomato and eating it

I don’t expect gel to b able to hold strong plants in place. Roots grow in soil, not gels.

Unsure, it's very heavy, 99 percent water. It definitely supports ordinary vegetables.

 

[Catalystic]

If it actually works it needs to be implemented everywhere
So entire world can benefit and solve the food problems

 

[Hack-Hook]

i wonder fur future agricultural techniques , why use expensive gels when you actually can grow crops in water via Hydroponics farming
by the way didn't a company in India produced hydro-gel for agriculture in 2015 I think it called Alsta

 

[Hydration]

i wonder fur future agricultural techniques , why use expensive gels when you actually can grow crops in water via Hydroponics farming
by the way didn't a company in India produced hydro-gel for agriculture in 2015 I think it called Alsta

Its not new its a work in progress It would be optimal for greenhouses.

 

[Azadkashmir]

gel will be new monoply like gmo seed