But beyond that, many readers may say: Big deal
¾there are thousands of ways of profitably supplying energy to agriculture. What's so different about this one?The timing, among other things. Some years ago such a project would probably have been an exercise in instant bankruptcy. There are at least three reasons why things have changed.
First and foremost, as usual, is technological improvement: in this case, in hydroponics (growing plants in liquid nutrient solutions rather than soil). In the last two or three years the field has advanced to the point where virtually every seed will root
¾ unthinkable in field agriculture. Also, success in hydroponics depends on continuously monitoring the temperature, concentration and pH factor of the nutrient solution flowing to the roots, followed by instant reaction to any changes. This used to be reflected in comparatively high labor costs, but now one can buy a slave for a pittance¾a very unintelligent slave, but one who asks no salary, joins no union, and is both fast and reliable in carrying out orders, never forgetting them until told to: the computer. Finally, the susceptibility of hydroponically grown crops to diseases, though not eliminated, has been greatly reduced by research, experience, and some technical innovations; also, because of the quick growth (for lettuce, 21 days from seed to harvest) the plants are exposed to environmental hazards for a shorter time.Second is the greatly increased attention to health, nutrition and diet that has pervaded life in America over the past decade. Greenhouse produce, especially hydroponically grown, is of superior quality:
Pesticides can be used at very low concentration (1% of that used in field agriculture) with no detectable residue at harvest. No chemical herbicides or fungicides are used because there are neither weeds nor soil-fungi where there is no soil. And the produce from the local greenhouse goes to market fresh, ripe and with its natural flavor, whereas field produce is grown from seeds genetically selected for resistance to wiltage during shipping (from California in the winter, for example), and picked prematurely so it will not spoil on the way.
Third is the changed economics that came with increased energy prices. This is probably the least important of the three, in part because this is more a matter of price ratios than price levels, in part because it is interwoven with the other two. For example, a preliminary estimate puts the retail price of a head of lettuce at 58 cents/head hydroponic vs. 50 cents/head field-grown, and it is the consumer's new health-consciousness that is expected to make him willing to pay the 16% premium.
It is innovative and risk-taking companies like Camberley who find out for certain whether the project wt work. If they succeed, their success will be taxed; if they fail, they get no breaks.
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Vol. 12, No. 6
Newsletter: Access to Energy Newsletter Archive Volume: Issues Issue/No.: Vol. 12, No. 6 Date: November 29, 2004 01:55 PM Title: Disaster in India
Copyright © 2004 - Access to Energy Newsletter Archive
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