Industry Overview  The Australian Hydroponic and Greenhouse Industry is the fastest growing food producing sector in Australia,  valued at around $600 million at the farm gate per annum. This is equivalent to 20% of the value of total vegetable  and cut flower production in Australia (RIRDC report HSA-9A). It is estimated that more than 10,000 people are  employed directly in greenhouse horticulture throughout Australia, with the industry expanding at between 4-6% per annum.  The average return on investment is between 5% and 10%. The potential return on investment for high technology greenhouse  vegetable enterprises is around 20-25% per annum. The Australian Hydroponic & Greenhouse Association (AHGA) is the peak industry body representing commercial hydroponic  and greenhouse growers Australia wide. AHGA members also include equipment and installation suppliers, specialist consultants  and advisors, researchers and educators. Hydroponics is the production of crops in isolation from the soil, either with or without a medium, with their total water and nutrient  requirements supplied by the system. Production takes place either in a greenhouse or outdoors and systems can recirculate or allow  nutrients to ‘free drain’ for reuse on other crops (eg. trees, pasture improvement, etc). The industry is highly efficient in its use of inputs  including water, fertilisers, labour, land and energy. Hydroponics and greenhouse technology has emerged as a commercial alternative to soil-based production. Significant crops include  tomatoes, cucumbers, capsicum, lettuce, strawberries, Mediterranean and Asian herbs, and cut flowers such as roses, gerberas,  carnations, lisianthus and chrysanthemums. Successful commercial production is undertaken by families producing for boutique markets, families as part of a larger growing and  marketing cooperative and by corporates with investors who are not active in day-to-day management. The industry is capital intensive  and capital costs are anywhere between $100 and $300 plus per square metre, depending on the sophistication of the greenhouse and  the level of equipment being included. Viable production units are a minimum of 1,500 square metres. Commercial success is linked to:  • Establishment of the venture in a realistic economic framework;  • Attention to market requirements before production commences;  • Realistic expectation of price, yield and labour requirements; and  • Experience in horticultural production prior to entry into hydroponics.  Source: http://www.ahga.org.au/php/viewtopic.php?t=7 The SWS hydroponic technology: For the cutting edge hydroponic tehnology provided through the SWS solution please press here. Author: staff writer Keywords: hydroponics Created on 1 June 2007,   Modified on 8 June 2007