Japanese Company Lets Plants Grow On Thin Films Instead Of Soil

Video demo:

http://techcrunch.com/2011/08/15/imec-japanese-company-lets-plants-grow-on-thin-films-instead-of-soil-video/

Mebiol says that tomatoes, radish, cucumber, melons etc. need up to 80% less water to grow when compared with conventional culture and that 1g of SkyGel (that’s the brand name of the hydrogel) absorbs and holds 100ml of water. In contrast to soil, bacteria or viruses have no chance to harm the plants. Another advantage is that SkyGel can be used on various surfaces, including sand, concrete or ice (see this PDF for examples from recent years).

The film can be used to grow plants for 2-3 years before it needs to be replaced, according to the company.