Enhancing Food Safety in Bangladesh: Exploring Hydroponic Farming as a Sustainable Solution
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ajmri.v5i2.6187Keywords:
Bangladesh, Food Safety, Hydroponics, Pesticide Contamination, Sustainable AgricultureAbstract
Food safety in Bangladesh is critically threatened by heavy metal and pesticide contamination from conventional agriculture. This review aims to evaluate hydroponic farming as a viable and sustainable solution to mitigate these food safety risks by analyzing its benefits, challenges, and resource efficiency compared to soil-based methods. While the food safety crisis in Bangladesh and the general benefits of hydroponics have been studied, there is a critical research gap in the comprehensive evaluation of hydroponics specifically as a solution to the nation’s unique contamination and adoption challenges. A systematic literature survey was conducted using academic databases and institutional websites. The literature confirms that conventional farming results in significant heavy metal (As, Cd, Pb) and pesticide residues in produce, often exceeding international safety limits. Key findings show that hydroponic systems virtually eliminate soil-borne contamination and drastically reduce pesticide dependency. Furthermore, hydroponics demonstrates superior resource efficiency, using up to 90% less water and significantly less space while increasing yield. Key challenges include high initial investment costs, technical knowledge gaps, and the need for climate-resilient infrastructure. Hydroponic farming presents a robust solution to the food safety crisis by producing cleaner, safer food. Widespread adoption requires strategic policy interventions, including financial incentives, robust farmer training programs, and research into cost-effective, climate-resilient systems. Integrating hydroponics can significantly enhance national food security and public health.
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