Hydroponic farming offers an innovative and smart solution in the face of the climate
In the small greenhouse of a family farm in southern Granada, lettuce grows without soil, thanks to solar energy. The Benjamins (Roger, 41, and Josanne, nicknamed Candy, 38) stand inside this shaded structure, watching the water flow through a network of narrow pipes. The elevated lettuce looks familiar—shiny, green, well-spaced—yet it grows with its roots suspended in a continuous flow of nutrient-rich water, not in the soil.
They were not trying to build something unique. They were trying to solve a problem. Rainfall came in spurts, or could be absent for weeks, and due to climate change, each season brought more uncertainties than the last. Like many small farmers, they worked with narrow margins, so that a single bad harvest could wipe out months of effort.They started by training themselves. Roger spent his evenings watching online videos and learning about the conditions under which hydroponics could work for them. What they initially built was simple: a shaded greenhouse, a set of pipes, and a rudimentary monitoring system, which they adapted as they learned.
