Growing media for food and quality of life in the period 2020-2050

Abstract

Growing media in soilless cultivation allow growers to apply water and nutrients more accurate (+15% growth) and to avoid soil diseases (+5/50% growth). Growing media, in combination with recirculation of drainage solution, reduce water use by about 50% and nutrient use by about 60%. For that and other reasons it is expected global growing media use will increase. A more precise estimation of the increase in demand is made, based on the expected growth of the world population, the expected increase in living standards for most people and the influence of several trends. Trends for vegetables include the need to address obesities, chronic micronutrient deficiencies and product safety. Trends for ornamentals include appreciation of natural aesthetics and ameliorating indoor climate and city climate. General trends include dealing with water scarcity, urbanisation, and more. The consequences of the possible higher demand are discussed in view of the availability of common growing media constituents like peat, coir, wood fibre, bark, compost, perlite, stone wool and tuffs as well as for less common but potentially available growing media (constituents) like Sphagnum, water and biochar. The influence of irrigation, drainage and support systems on growing media preference are discussed, as affected by trends, including recirculation of drainage solution, the use of organic fertilisers and developments in remote growing. In conclusion, the global growing media market is highly dynamic with the potential to increase four-fold between 2017 and 2050 with the highest per continent use shifting to Asia. The population increase is expected to contribute about 40%, income increase about 80% and trends about 40% for vegetables and 270% for ornamentals, totalling a market increase of 260% for vegetables and 490% for ornamentals. Growing media can contribute to a more sustainable production of vegetables and ornamentals as well as to public health and quality of life.

Vertical Farming: The Only Way Is Up?

“…As a result of its wide availability, low cost, and excellent performance, peat is the most used plant-growing medium to this day [51,52]. In 2017, peat represented an estimated 60% of the globally used volume of plant-growing media [53]. The increased environmental awareness of consumers, pressure from policymakers to restrict the exploitation of ecologically important peatlands, and a sense of personal responsibility have made plant-growing medium manufacturers shift toward a peat-reduced future [54,55].…”

“…The use of plant-growing media in hydroponic cultivation is expected to increase exponentially by 2050 [53]. For example, compared to 2017, the global use of peat is expected to grow 200%, coir 418%, bark 500%, compost 500%, and wood fiber 1000% [53].…”

“…The use of plant-growing media in hydroponic cultivation is expected to increase exponentially by 2050 [53]. For example, compared to 2017, the global use of peat is expected to grow 200%, coir 418%, bark 500%, compost 500%, and wood fiber 1000% [53]. Competition for use will mainly be driven by material quality, with peat and coir pith becoming volume-limited materials and compost quality limited [53].…”

“…For example, compared to 2017, the global use of peat is expected to grow 200%, coir 418%, bark 500%, compost 500%, and wood fiber 1000% [53]. Competition for use will mainly be driven by material quality, with peat and coir pith becoming volume-limited materials and compost quality limited [53]. As the fast-growing market develops, different blends of materials will be used, which is expected to influence the microbial composition of plant-growing media.…”

First Steps toward a Test Procedure to Identify Peat Substitutes for Growing Media by Means of Chemical, Physical, and Biological Material Characteristics

“…For several decades, peat has been the most important component for growing media [1] due to its ideal chemical, physical, and biological properties in plant cultivation [2]. Globally, about 90 million m 3 of peat are produced per year from which 40 million m 3 are used in horticulture [3,4]. Starting as a by-product, it is often to be found as the only component in a growing medium.…”