A farm owner in Central Newfoundland has helped form a new organization that is touting the benefits of the use of hydroponics in agriculture.

Mackenzie Warford is the president of Papa’s Farm in South Brook, and recently helped co-found the Canadian Hydroponic Association.

Warford explains that hydroponics is the growth of any fruit, vegetable, or plant without the use of soil, instead using artificial lighting and a water soluble fertilizer to feed the plants.

He says it can be done inside, in greenhouses, and it can even be done outside to what he calls “great results.”

Warford says the association was founded due to a lack of support and materials for the industry. He explains Canada doesn’t really have a hydroponic industry, whereas the United states has one that generates over $9-billion in revenue annually.

As such, new growers locally don’t have anywhere to turn to get started, and Warford states they want to change that, and eventually get government on board.

He believes that it makes “no sense” to import produce when it can be grown year round hydroponically.

He states that there are “major benefits” to hydroponics and that it could benefit food security.