# Shipping Container Gardens Cropbox Blends Greenhouses and Hydroponics for Mobile Farming By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2015-03-05 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mobile-farming References: [newsobserver](http://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article11316137.html) & [cropbox.co](http://www.cropbox.co/) Combining hydroponics and a software monitoring system, Cropbox is a new [mobile farming solution](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/advanced-indoor-farming) that provides the potential to grow crops throughout the year. Thanks to hydroponics, Cropbox claims to be able to use 90% less water and 80% less fertilizer than conventional agriculture, as well as turn out a higher number of yields. In a single 320 square foot shipping container, there are spots for nearly 3,000 plants. The farm-in-a-box can be used to grow anything from strawberries to [herbs, mushrooms and leafy greens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/auk-mini), appealing to farmers, gardeners and even those who don't have green thumbs. As for its applications, the Cropboxes can be leased out as needed, showing plenty of promise for restaurants and feeding livestock. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.3/10 - Popularity: 91% | Activity: 89% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Hydroponic Farming:** Hydroponics technology offers the potential to revolutionize agriculture by enabling year-round crop production with significantly lower resource usage. - **Mobile Farming Solutions:** The development of mobile farming solutions, such as Cropbox, opens up opportunities for urban agriculture and farming in remote areas with limited space. - **Vertical Farming:** Vertical farming technologies, like the ones used in shipping container gardens, provide a scalable and efficient method for growing a variety of crops in limited space. ### Who This Affects Most - **Agriculture:** The agriculture industry can benefit from adopting hydroponics and mobile farming solutions to increase crop yields and reduce resource consumption. - **Restaurant and Food Service:** Restaurants can explore the use of Cropbox and similar mobile farming solutions to grow fresh produce on-site, ensuring a constant supply of high-quality ingredients. - **Livestock Farming:** Livestock farmers can utilize shipping container gardens to grow feed crops, reducing dependence on external suppliers and ensuring a sustainable feed source. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Self-Sustaining Indoor Gardens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/automated-hydroponic-indoor-garden.md) - [Container-Based Indoor Gardens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bottle-farm-mini.md) - [Haute Hydroponic Gardening Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oasis-smart-farm.md) - [All-in-One Soil-Free Garden Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-hydroponic-grow-box.md) - [Modular Indoor Gardening Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gud-plant-box.md) - [Indoor Hydroponic Smart Gardens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rise-gardens-indoor-device.md) - [Small Space Hydroponic Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aerospring-pinch-hydroponic-system.md) - [Space-Saving Hydroponic Gardens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/modular-hydroponic-garden-tower.md) - [Minimalist Indoor Gardening Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/balconyfarm-pot.md)