A 16-year-old student from New Jersey has turned a backyard soil-free farming experiment into an urban agriculture project that has donated more than 3,500 pounds of fresh produce to local food pantries while also helping shape local laws. Arjun Jain, a student from Holmdel, New Jersey, started experimenting with hydroponics in his backyard after seeing how food insecurity affected nearby communities. Hydroponics allows plants to grow in water filled with nutrients instead of traditional soil. It can use much less water and land than standard farming. What began as a small personal project soon grew into a nonprofit organisation called HydroProduce. Through the initiative, Jain installed automated hydroponic growing systems in community spaces, school gardens and local facilities. The systems have produced thousands of pounds of fresh vegetables for families in need across Monmouth and Middlesex counties. According to a profile published by Action for Nature, an international environmental organisation that named Jain a 2024 International Young Eco-Hero, the project has provided fresh, nutrient-rich greens to food banks that often have difficulty keeping fresh vegetables available.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
