Glossary

A process of eliminating harmful organisms, pests, or weed seeds from soil by using heat, steam, or chemicals.

The process by which plants release carbon dioxide and consume oxygen during the metabolic breakdown of sugars and nutrients to produce energy.

The development of fruit without fertilization or pollination. Parthenocarpic plants can produce fruit without viable seeds.

The use of natural methods, such as beneficial insects, botanical extracts, or biological controls, to manage pests without relying on synthetic pesticides.

A hybrid system that combines nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponics with aquaponics, utilizing fish waste as a nutrient source for plants.

A variation of hydroponics that uses smaller-scale systems to grow plants in smaller volumes of nutrient-rich water.

Energy-efficient and long-lasting artificial light sources used in indoor farming to provide specific light spectra that promote plant growth and development.

Plant varieties that continue to grow, produce flowers, and bear fruit over an extended period. They have a continuous growth habit.

A heating pad or mat placed underneath plant containers or trays to provide gentle bottom heat, promoting germination and root development.

The process of altering an organism’s genetic material through biotechnology to introduce specific traits or characteristics. GM crops are commonly used in agriculture, including indoor farming.