Turkish entrepreneur Melih Dökmeci, who began designing his dream hydroponic farming machines in 2020 and made his first sale in 2023, now aims to export his innovative devices to Europe, the U.S., and the Middle East.
Driven by a long-standing interest in soilless agriculture, Dökmeci founded his company with the goal of producing domestic hydroponic farming systems. These devices, designed for use in homes, restaurants, and offices, enable the cultivation of edible leafy greens directly at the point of consumption.
Locally Designed and Patented Technology
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Dökmeci explained that his journey started with assembling prototypes from spare parts. After proving the concept, his team began designing their own systems — including electronic control boards and software — all developed and written in Turkey.
Patent and utility model applications have been submitted to the Turkish Patent Office and are currently under review. Dökmeci emphasized that not only the control systems and software, but also the lighting and growing trays are either their own designs or produced in collaboration with Turkish companies, ensuring 100% local production.
The project attracted investment from Founder One, a venture capital firm formed through a partnership between the Turkish Entrepreneurship Foundation, Turkish Informatics Foundation, and İşbank’s subsidiary Maxis Venture Capital.
Fast Growth, Minimal Space
The device can grow any non-root plant under 25 centimeters in height, including herbs like mint, thyme, basil, sorrel, and edible flowers.
“Root vegetables such as radishes, carrots, and potatoes aren’t suitable, but leafy plants thrive. In fact, plants grow up to three times faster compared to traditional farming — basil that takes three months in soil is ready in just one month in our system,” Dökmeci explained.
The company uses a method known as “ebb and flow,” where plants grow in agricultural rock wool and receive water and nutrients from a built-in tank that automatically measures and delivers what each layer of plants needs.
“We ship the seedlings already planted in grow media. Customers only need to place them in the machine, which handles the rest,” he said.
Bringing Farming Back into Homes
Citing the rising global cost of fresh, organic produce, Dökmeci noted a growing interest among chefs and consumers for pesticide-free, fresh plants.
“Many people want assurance that the food they eat is chemical-free. Our system allows herbs and greens to be grown and consumed on-site, providing that peace of mind,” he said.
The startup currently offers devices tailored for commercial use, but home units are in development. Dökmeci aims to produce smaller, more affordable models that would allow families to grow their own leafy greens and vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers.
“The needs of home users differ from businesses, and we’re working on solutions that reflect those demands,” he added.
First Sales, Future Goals
Dökmeci made his first sales in 2023, delivering devices to 11 locations across three Turkish cities.
“Our systems are now used in restaurants, hotels, and corporate offices. For instance, we installed a device at a private energy company’s headquarters that grows 900 plants simultaneously, supplying 30 heads of lettuce daily for their cafeteria’s salad bar,” he said.
The long-term vision is to bring these locally produced systems to international markets.
“Our main export targets are Europe, the U.S., and the Middle East. Currently, 80% of hydroponic farming systems are used in the U.S. and Europe, but we see rising demand in the Middle East as well,” Dökmeci stated.
Tapping into a $5 Billion Global Market
With hydroponic farming growing at a rate of 20% annually, Dökmeci estimates the global market size to be around $5 billion, with home-based systems accounting for $2 billion.
“This sector is expanding fast. Our goal is to capture a share of that market by exporting innovative, Turkish-made solutions to the world,” he concluded.
Source: Anadolu Ajansı/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök