CHAP Survey - Substrate use in Controlled Environment Agriculture
CHAP are conducting a survey in order to better understand substrate (growing media) use across UK horticulture, both as part of our role within the InnovateUK-funded Gelponics project, and in line with our focus on agri-tech solutions for net zero emissions.

The Gelponics consortium, led by AEH Innovative Hydrogel Ltd, are exploring novel and sustainable substrates for the hydroponic production of horticultural crops. As part of this project, we would like to explore substrate use across the UK horticulture sector and particularly the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) subsector.

We would like to ask you a few questions (approximately 5-10 minutes) to gather your thoughts and opinions on horticultural substrates. This will allow us to better serve you in the future by optimising our project R&D and aligning our products with customer demand, fully understanding all barriers to adoption.

Please be assured that all answers provided will be anonymised to ensure confidentiality; we are only collecting email addresses to help us ensure data quality and avoid duplication.

The data from this questionnaire will be summarised and key findings reported back to the sector via CHAP’s dissemination channels, as part of the knowledge exchange element of this project.

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Email *
Gelponics consortium: AEH Innovative Hydrogel Ltd (lead) and Crop Health and Protection Ltd (main RTO partner).
Are you a grower of horticultural produce? *
Do you grow hydroponically (including aeroponics)? *
If so, what crops do you produce? *
What type of hydroponic system do you use? (Select all that apply) *
Required
Is your hydroponic system recirculating? *
Required
If you are fully or partly recirculating your water, please specify how you are cleaning your water prior to reapplication (e.g. sand filter, UV...).
What type of hydroponic substrate (growing medium) do you use? (Select all that apply) *
Required
Please specify what substrate you use, if you use a substrate not listed in the preceding question
Please rank the following characteristics (highest to lowest) by importance to you, when choosing your preferred substrate? *
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
Price
Uniformity across batches/suppliers
Ease of use (i.e. easy to handle or cut, lightweight...)
Water holding capacity/irrigation efficiency
Air porosity
Buffering capacity (ability to maintain stable pH and nutrient concentration)
Hospitability to pests/diseases
Recyclability/reusability
Accommodates automation
If there is another important substrate characteristic that we have not captured in the preceding question, please specify.
For your (as ranked) most important substrate characteristic, please tell us why you ranked it highest? *
Do you prefer an inorganic substrate (e.g. rock wool) that is fully inert or an organic substrate (e.g. peat) that interacts with your nutrient solution? *
For your choice of inorganic or organic substrate, please explain why you have that preference. *
How much automation do you have within your production environment? (Please select all steps that are automated) *
Required
If you have automated a process step that we have not listed, please specify it here.
Over how many growth cycles do you typically use your growth substrate for? (If you grow different crops in different ways, please specify for your main crop) *
Do you recycle your substrate currently? (If you use more than one substrate, answer for the principal one) *
If you recycle your substrate on or off site, please specify how you do this (e.g. compost, landfill...).
Have you ever used a polymer substrate for crop production? *
If you have used a form of polymer substrate not captured by the options above, please specify.
If you have explored a polymer substrate, what made you explore it and was it successful for you?
If you haven't ever explored a polymer substrate, what do you think would make a good polymer substrate?
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