Why This Matters

Food insecurity affects over 13 million children in the U.S., limiting access to fresh, nutritious food and deepening inequality. At the same time, our agricultural systems are strained by climate change, limited land, and urban expansion.

Hydroponics offers a powerful alternative. This project explores how growing food without soil can help communities gain control over their food supply, and why this matters more now than ever.

The Hidden Cost of Hunger

In many neighborhoods, especially urban or low-income areas, fresh produce is either too expensive or unavailable. These "food deserts" are linked to higher rates of diet-related illnesses, stunted academic growth in children, and long-term health disparities.

Urban Agriculture as a Solution

Hydroponic systems can be set up in basements, rooftops, schools, or shipping containers, making them perfect for dense cities and areas with poor soil or limited space.

With the right support, hydroponics can put healthy food within reach of the communities that need it most.

Empowering Youth Through Innovation

Programs like Teens for Food Justice are showing what’s possible when students take food systems into their own hands.

Youth-led hydroponic farms not only grow food, they grow skills, confidence, and leadership.

A Growing Need for Change

With the global population rising and climate conditions becoming more unpredictable, traditional farming alone can’t meet future food demands.

We need scalable, sustainable solutions, and we need them now. Hydroponics allows us to grow food anywhere, with less water, no soil, and fewer emissions. It’s very much needed for life on Earth as we know it.