Aeroponic Cultivation of Medicinal Root Crops

Yesterday we had a really interesting discussion and workshop about Herbs, Useful and Medicinal Plants.  The presentation I found most interesting was about this research paper: Potential for Greenhouse Aeroponic Cultivation of Medicinal Root Crops.  Aeroponics uses air as the growing medium, the plants roots grow bare and the misted environment provides nutrients without the use of soil or soilless media.  This particular research project looked at growing medicinal root crops such as echinacea, ginseng, and burdock on/in really innovative a-frame aeroponics chambers built by the Controlled Environment Agriculture Centre (which in itself is a really interesting endeavour).  There are all sorts of benefits (and challenges) to growing this way, the most noticable was improved quality and much higher crop yields.  I could go on and on in great detail but I'll let you read the paper if you're that interested :)