Did you know that Dr William Frederick Gericke is known as the “father of hydroponics”? PSA Marine’s new smart hydroponics rooftop farm, Gerické (pronounced Ge-RI-kay), is named after him!

The Gerické rooftop farm is part of PSA Marine’s Sustainability Movement. Through this initiative, PSA Marine aims to increase awareness about food security, promote food sustainability by supporting local food production, and encourage community cohesiveness by building a space for healthy community bonding among employees.

The vegetables at the rooftop farm are grown and harvested through a modern hydroponics system that incorporates smart technologies. They are cultivated solely by using mineral nutrient solutions in aqueous solvents. The hydroponics system enables precise control of environmental parameters such as temperature and pH balance. This system maximizes the vegetables’ exposure to nutrients and water, providing optimal growing conditions. By capturing and reusing the water, the system uses 90% less water than land farming, which helps to reduce resource consumption.

A unique feature that sets the Gerické farm apart from conventional hydroponic farms is the use of new technology. PSA Marine has developed a mobile app that provides real-time information of the vegetables’ growth rate. It also tracks the different resources used – such as water, sunlight, and nutrients – through IoT, smart sensors, and closed-circuit cameras. The app enables them to better determine harvesting dates and adjust resources for a more bountiful harvest. The PSA Marine team has harvested more than 300kg of organic produce since the start of the farm in November 2021!

Plans are underway to expand the Gerické farm into a full-fledged, sheltered hydroponics rooftop farm. Solar panels will also be progressively installed to power the farm, creating a green farming ecosystem.