How Elon and Kimball Musk Are Shaping the Future of Hydroponics

The Musk Brothers and Hydroponics: What You Didn’t Know

Welcome back to Hydroponics Daily. I’m Dr. Russell Sharp, inventor of Gold Leaf (Liquid Gold)—the one-part fertilizer that takes your plants from seed to harvest with a single solution.

Today’s topic takes us beyond Earth—literally. We’re diving into how Elon Musk and his brother Kimball Musk are shaping the future of hydroponics, from vertical farms on Earth to underground agriculture on Mars.

Elon Musk: Hydroponics for Mars Colonization?

Elon Musk may be best known for SpaceX, Tesla, and Neuralink, but in 2019, he also shared his vision for hydroponic farming on Mars. He suggested that:

• Solar-powered systems could fuel underground hydroponic farms
• These farms would play a critical role in human survival off-planet

While that vision has faced funding hurdles—particularly due to recent NASA budget cuts—the idea of soil-less farming in space is still very much alive.

Kimball Musk and Square Roots: Vertical Farming with Impact

Elon’s younger brother, Kimball Musk, has taken a more Earth-bound route. Named Social Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017, Kimball co-founded Square Roots, a Brooklyn-based vertical farming startup.

Square Roots Highlights:

• Started with $90+ million in funding
• Utilized shipping containers for urban hydroponic farms
• At its peak: 5 indoor farms across the U.S.
• Pivoted in 2023 after significant layoffs

Like many hydroponic startups, Square Roots transitioned to “farming as a service”—a model often adopted when the economics of crop production don’t work out.

“Farming as a Service”: What It Really Means

Whenever a vertical farming company shifts from selling produce to offering experiences or education, that’s a red flag for profitability.

“Farming as a service” often involves:

• Educational programs for students
• Showcase farms used like aquariums or exhibits
• Partnerships with schools, museums, or tech incubators

It’s a creative pivot, but one that signals challenges in scaling hydroponics profitably, especially for leafy greens and supermarket-based models.

Square Roots Japan: Full Circle Innovation

Interestingly, Square Roots has expanded to Japan, a country that pioneered LED-lit hydroponic systems decades ago. This international move represents a return to the origins of vertical farming innovation, now updated with newer tech and branding.

Cutting-Edge Research: CRISPR, Acetate, and No Light Needed

Kimball is also connected to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is backing some truly futuristic research:

• Gene-edited crops using CRISPR
• Plants that grow without light, instead fed on acetate (a vinegar-like compound)

If successful, this could revolutionize both space agriculture and low-energy crop production on Earth.

Hydroponics Beyond Headlines: Elon + Kimball = Future Farming?

While Elon’s focus has shifted more to AI and rockets, and Kimball’s Square Roots has faced its share of hurdles, both brothers remain influential in the hydroponic movement.

From space-based sustainability to biotech-driven urban agriculture, their work raises big questions:

• Can we grow food in total darkness?
• Will urban farms ever become profitable at scale?
• How will CRISPR shape the next generation of crops?

Final Thoughts

So, are the Musk brothers still relevant to hydroponics? Absolutely. While they’re not splashed across the hydro headlines like they once were, their tech-forward thinking and ambitious experiments continue to push the boundaries.

Whether you’re growing lettuce in a garage or dreaming of Martian tomatoes, the Musks are two names to watch.

Article by Dr Russell Sharp

If you would like to keep up to date with subjects just like this, you can listen to both our podcasts! Links can be found bellow:

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