Agricultural technology research highlights potential of soilless and controlled farming

Research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Virginia Tech, and Penn State highlights the growing importance of advanced agricultural technologies, including controlled environment agriculture and soilless farming systems.

Studies suggest that technologies such as hydroponics, vertical farming, and agrivoltaics—which combines solar energy generation with farming—could increase crop yields, enhance nutrition, and improve year-round access to fresh food. While these systems face economic and technological hurdles, they offer solutions to water scarcity, land limitations, and food security. The U.S. soilless food market is a rapidly expanding sector, projected to exceed $6 billion by 2026.

However, researchers at Penn State noted that microbial management remains a significant challenge in soilless systems. Their study found that hydroponic system design and growing cycles strongly influence microbial community structures in nutrient solutions, which may impact food safety and require specific management strategies for different systems.