As our Erasmus+ project “Hydroponics, AI and IoT for Sustainable Education” progresses, the global hydroponics industry is growing at unprecedented speed — and education is increasingly becoming part of the conversation.

According to recent reports, the global hydroponics market is projected to reach $47.9 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 14% from 2024 onwards. This surge is being driven by several converging factors: the need for sustainable food systems, rising urbanisation, water scarcity, and the increasing use of technology in agriculture (DataM Intelligence, 2024).

Hydroponics — the method of growing plants without soil — uses up to 90% less water and allows food to be produced closer to where it’s consumed. It's efficient, scalable, and adaptable to both rural and urban settings. For schools and educational institutions, this creates the perfect opportunity to bring STEM, sustainability, and innovation into the classroom.