Simplified hydroponics to reduce global hunger

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO), more than 800 million people do not have enough to eat. Simplified hydroponic technology offers the potential of reducing hunger. This technology has been explored since 1984 in Colombia, and introduced in 13 countries with projects supported by UN FAO, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and others. The technology reduces land requirements for crops by 75% or more, and water use by 90%. Crop nutrients are contained and recycled so no residual salts are lost to environment. Herbicide use is nonexistent and pesticides required are natural vegetable sprays and barriers. Bed growers of 2m(2) can be built for material costs of $6.42 per m(2). Common production figures for simplified hydroponics range from .11 to 0.23 kg of edible food per m(2) per day. Data from Colombia show a 40m(2) garden can produce an income of $101.00 per month when planted in commercial crops. Costs and profits are summarized for basil, celery, pepper, lettuce, cucumber, radish and tomato. Profits range from $5.28 (US) per m(2) per year for cucumber to $40.26 (US) per m(2) per year for lettuce. Production ranges from 8.8 kg/m(2) per year for cucumber and 64.9 kg/m(2) per year for lettuce.