THE SEEMINGLY INFINITE UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF THE LOOFAH BY ANDREW VACA
April 30, 2026, marked NY Sunworks’ 15th Annual Discovering Sustainability Science Youth Conference. And yes, that was indeed a double-digit number; that’s how you know that NY Sun Works doesn’t play when it comes to showcasing the science of sustainability.
Keeping up with the previous year, this year’s youth conference was held in the Javits Center in Manhattan. Being fortunate enough to attend the conference for the first time, as soon as I took my first step in the center, I was shocked by how futuristic the Javits Center looked. If AI and whatever your rendition of the future maybe had a baby, that’s exactly how I would describe the Javits Center, both inside and out. Moving to the main event —the student presentations—which were held in a large auditorium, let’s unpack what these students explored within the vast field of sustainability science.
Coming first to the stage were Isla, Grayson, and Blake, an adorable group of practically Lego-sized students from Oliver H. Perry School. Don’t let their size fool you, as their project tackled a big question: Can a Loofah Be Used as a Growing Substrate? They focused on testing whether a loofah could be used as an alternative growing substrate in a hydroponic system. The issue that prompted them to investigate this question was that many growing substrates used in hydroponics are non-renewable, which led them to consider more sustainable options.
In their experiment, basil seeds were planted into a loofah placed in an NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) hydroponic table with water to see if the basil would grow successfully. After the presentation, I asked what other plants could be tested besides basil. Isla remarked that lettuce could also potentially work in the system. The presenters explained that more research is still needed to better understand how effective loofah can be as a long-term growing substrate (in other words, these young scholars have laid the groundwork for future research to pick up on!).
Another insightful presentation was given by dynamic duo Levi and Hadley from The Harbor Middle School, who sought to answer the question: How does the Age of Swiss Chard Plants Affect Their Salt Tolerance? And to be honest, my brain processed the word ” Swiss ” and could not stop thinking about the turkey sandwiches that were to be served for lunch. Anywho, squaring back to this innovative topic, their goal was to examine ways to reduce water usage while also improving environmental sustainability. They also referenced the nitrogen cycle (very much caught that reference shout-out, my 5th-grade science teacher) as part of how nutrients are circulated within their system. The system they studied was modeled after the New York harbor environment. As part of their methodology, they utilized Swiss Chard plants, which are able to tolerate increased levels of salinity and nutrients. This made them suitable for testing how plants respond under different aquatic conditions. During our interview, I asked what other curiosities or questions they had after completing their experiment. Both of these bright minds wondered how their findings could be applied in real-world settings such as the harbor environment. I also inquired about how future researchers could expand on their work. In response, they mentioned the idea of a floating garden system, which could potentially extend their research into different areas of aquatic agriculture.
These were just some of the many impressive presentations I was able to witness as part of the youth press team. It was inspiring to see students actively engaging with scientific questions and exploring gaps in hydroponic research. Ultimately, major environmental challenges, whether recurring or upcoming, don’t stand a chance against these students, who are actively contributing to solutions by exploring plant-based systems and broader environmental research.
