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Hydroponics: are we moving towards that direction only because of the environment? A discussion on forecasting and a systems review

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Abstract

During the evolution of the human, agriculture and land utilization was inevitably connected with survival in nature. Human activity was not only restricted to the production of agricultural products but also extended into many other sectors, such as the production of several industrial-made products, mining, and usage of fossil fuels as a standard method of generating electricity. However, the intense urbanization phenomenon ultimately caused, during the last few decades, the degradation of our natural environment. As a result, the quality (and quantity) of produced food we consume has significantly decreased. The need for the evolution of alternative methods of cultivation is constant and always a hot topic, especially in order to confront the multiple problems that conventional agriculture has. Hydroponics, an innovative cultivation method, comes to solve many of these problems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering Educators, School of Pedagogical & Technological Education, 141 21, Iraklio Attikis, Greece

    Dimitrios-Panagiotis Manos

  2. Department of Business Development and Technology, Centre for Energy Technologies, Aarhus University, Birk Centerpark 15, 7400, Herning, Denmark

    George Xydis

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  1. Dimitrios-Panagiotis Manos
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  2. George Xydis
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Correspondence to George Xydis.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Manos, DP., Xydis, G. Hydroponics: are we moving towards that direction only because of the environment? A discussion on forecasting and a systems review. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 12662–12672 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-04933-5

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