Tap water and sunlight, the hydroponic revolution by Fao and La Sapienza

A hydroponic vegetable garden that works with sunlight instead of artificial light and 'tap' water (i.e. not demineralised). The above-ground cultivation inaugurated on the roof of the Fao headquarters in Rome, based on the studies of the University of Rome La Sapienza, is particularly innovative.

"The innovative hydroponic garden," the FAO explained in a note, "promoted by La Sapienza University, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat and the Italian Development Cooperation, features innovative techniques that mark a step forward in traditional hydroponics. The vegetable garden, which complements the one installed in 2021 and is the result of the existing partnership between the institutions, makes it possible to use tap water, eliminating the need for demineralised water and thus reducing the waste of resources'.
In the vegetable garden, 'only organic fertilisers are used, reducing the ecological footprint of the system, the microorganisms dissolved in the water interact with the plants, increasing their resistance to stress factors such as high temperatures and pests'.

In addition, the system is designed for outdoor use, "eliminating the need for artificial light used in conventional hydroponics, thus maintaining an exceptionally low daily energy consumption".
Finally, the garden is constructed of 90% certified sustainable wood, "reducing to a minimum the use of plastic used in conventional hydroponic systems.

The hydroponics space will serve as a test bench for research exploring the potential for improved resource management in off-farm agriculture that can be an alternative or supplement to conventional agriculture, with potential applications in areas with a shortage of water and arable soil, such as mountains.

During the ceremony, the Director-General of the FAO Qu Dongyue and the Rector of La Sapienza University, Antonella Polimeni, renewed the collaboration with the FAO's flagship programme, Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (Giahs), and the Mountain Partnership, with the hydroponic garden implementing the Memorandum of Understanding already signed in December 2023.