H&M and Magtech produce first five‑tonne hydroponic cotton batch for garments
H&M Group’s Circular Innovation Lab and Spanish hydroponic‑farming company Magtech produced the first five‑tonne batch of hydroponically grown cotton and turned it into garments in Spain. A single hectare of the hydroponic setup accommodates roughly 30,600 plants spread across 52 channels, each stretching 98 meters, so checking every plant would require walking more than five kilometers.
The hydroponic method grows cotton roots in circulating water with a controlled nutrient mix, and water is recovered and reused in a closed‑loop system. AI‑driven cameras monitor crop ripeness and detect pests, allowing pesticides to be applied only where needed. The approach enables brands to create local supply chains, as the system can be installed in car parks, on rooftops or even deserts with sunlight and a water source. Existing farm workers can be retrained as growers, agronomists or technicians to operate the hydroponic facilities.
“One hectare of our system contains approximately 30,600 plants distributed across 52 growing channels, each about 98 meters long. Walking those channels once means covering more than five kilometers,” David René Rodríguez said.
“You can basically set this up in a car park, on a rooftop, even in the desert. As long as there’s sun and a reasonable source of water,” Martin Ekenbark said.
Earlier trials by HKRITA and Materra showed that soilless cotton is technically possible but not yet proven as a scalable alternative to conventional growing. The project aims to demonstrate and independently validate hydroponic cotton as a complementary option for regions with limited water, arable land, or nearby textile demand.
What we know
The first five‑tonne batch passed quality checks and has been turned into garments in Spain.
One hectare of our system contains approximately 30,600 plants distributed across 52 growing channels, each about 98 meters long.
Walking those channels once means covering more than five kilometers.
The partners plan to set up a second hydroponic site in India.