View PDF.pdf

The potential applications of plant hydroponics in the medicinal plant industry are analyzed, highlighting the benefits of controlled growing conditions and optimized mineral nutrition. Trials conducted at the University of Pisa between 2005 and 2010 explored the use of a floating raft growing system for Echinacea and basil, resulting in rapid growth and high biomass production with minimal contamination. However, Echinacea's high biomass production did not correlate with elevated levels of caffeic acid derivatives, while basil accumulated sufficient rosmarinic acid. Hydroponics, a soilless cultivation method, offers advantages over traditional farming, including increased control over growing conditions and reduced environmental impact. The integration of hydroponics with cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, IoT, and big data, is transforming the agricultural industry, enabling precision farming and increased efficiency. The concept of Agriculture 4.0 aims to seamlessly merge agricultural practices with advanced technology, and hydroponics is well-suited to this framework. Despite the potential benefits, obstacles must be overcome to bring these technological advances to medium- and small-scale operations, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas, to achieve sustainable development goals.