---
title: HydroLoop Farm — Modular vertical hydroponics, made in Morocco
url: https://hydroloopfarm.com/
language: en
updated: 2026-10-04
designer_and_patent_holder: Ahmed Akafou
app_developer: AIWorkPay
contact_email: contact@aiworkpay.fr
contact_phone: "+33602405147"
---

# HydroLoop Farm

**Grow more, on less ground.** A Moroccan innovation, patent pending.

HydroLoop Farm is a modular A-Frame hydroponic system with three independent nutrient loops and a continuous cohort rotation, so a module harvests every 20–27 days, all year. A companion app follows every batch from seed to harvest.

| Key figure | Value |
|---|---|
| Independent nutrient loops | 3 (one per growth stage) |
| Plants per module | 48 (16 per level) |
| Days between harvests | 20–27, with no idle period |
| Footprint | 4 m² (2.0 × 2.0 × 1.5 m module) |
| Water saving | > 80% vs soil-based growing |

## Why HydroLoop

Conventional vertical NFT systems stack plants but treat them as a single crop. HydroLoop is designed around the fact that every stage of a plant's life needs something different.

| Problem in conventional systems | HydroLoop answer |
|---|---|
| One shared tank for every stage: pH, EC and nutrients cannot be tuned per cohort | One sealed loop per level, no backflow |
| Upper levels shade lower ones | Staggered A-Frame with 10 cm anti-shading offset |
| Harvest, then wait: weeks with no output | Calibrated cohort rotation, continuous output |
| Paper-based traceability | A digital passport for every cohort |

## The module

A self-supporting A-Frame in galvanised steel or anodised aluminium carries three levels of food-grade PVC NFT channels. Each level is its own growing chamber, with a dedicated reservoir, pump and aeration.

| Level | Stage | Channel width | EC (mS/cm) | Reservoir |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N1 (bottom) | Vegetative growth | 200 mm | 1.2–1.6 | 100 L |
| N2 (middle) | Stretch and pre-flowering | 300 mm | 1.8–2.2 | 50 L |
| N3 (top) | Flowering and maturation | 400 mm | 2.4–2.8 | 50 L |

Channels run at a 2% slope (40 mm over 2 m) for a laminar nutrient film of 1–3 mm. No soil, no substrate: roots sit in a recirculating film, so water is reused instead of drained.

## Continuous rotation

At every interval, each cohort climbs one level, the top cohort is harvested and a fresh one enters at the bottom.

1. **Day 0–9, germination** in a separate nursery, outside the module.
2. **Day 10, level 1 (growth):** a cohort of 16 plants per level joins the bottom loop.
3. **+20 to 27 days, level 2 (stretch):** moved up; solution and spacing change with it.
4. **+20 to 27 days, level 3 (flowering):** top position, strongest light, maturation profile.
5. **Harvest:** fresh-frozen at −40 °C, level cleaned in place, next cohort moves up.

Result: 13.5 to 18.25 harvests per year depending on the cultivar.

## Two versions, one frame

Both versions share the same structure, independent loops and rotation. Only the light changes.

### HydroLoop Farm (greenhouse)

- Natural sunlight as the main light source
- LED top-up switches on automatically when a light sensor detects low light
- Greenhouse held at 24–28 °C, natural ventilation and misting
- Lowest running cost, designed for cooperatives

### HydroLoop Inside (controlled environment)

- Full-spectrum LED only, with a different spectrum on each level
- Sensors for temperature, humidity, CO₂, pH and EC
- N1: blue 450–470 nm + cool white 6500 K
- N2: red 660 nm + neutral white 4000 K + far-red 730 nm
- N3: full spectrum enriched in deep red 680–740 nm

## The companion app: HydroLoop Farm Manager

Developed by **AIWorkPay**. A web app that installs on any phone (PWA).

- **Seed-to-batch logbook:** batch ID, cultivar, sowing date, module, phase and day, plus pH, EC, solution temperature, dissolved oxygen, NFT flow, PPFD and photoperiod.
- **Instant alerts:** pH below 5.5 or above 6.5, dissolved O₂ under 6 mg/L, solution above 22 °C, EC outside 0.8–3.0 mS/cm, low NFT flow.
- **AI agronomy report:** structured analysis of roots, leaves, trims and flowers for each batch, with recommendations.
- **Harvest prediction:** estimated date and window, with a confidence level.
- **QR code per batch:** scanning it opens the batch record (base of the Taqnin ID Batch passport).
- **Analytics and comparisons:** batches by cultivar, alert frequency, phase distribution, environmental averages, same-cultivar comparisons.
- **Works offline:** keeps working without signal; syncs to the cloud when the connection returns.
- **Secure access:** login-protected.

A public app URL is not published yet. Request access at contact@aiworkpay.fr.

## Traceability and compliance

Each cohort gets a unique **Taqnin ID Batch** identifier the day it enters the module. Attached to it: genetics, module and levels, entry date, environment log (pH, EC, temperature, humidity), operator signatures, harvest fresh weight with date and time, −40 °C freezing curve and contracted destination.

HydroLoop is designed for markets that require documented, reproducible plant material: medicinal and pharmaceutical botany, nutraceutical actives and cosmetic ingredients, including the regulated medicinal sector opened by Morocco's Law 13-21.

Standards and frameworks: GACP · pre-GMP ready · ANRAC (Law 13-21) · ONSSA · ISO 22005 traceability · Génération Green 2030.

## Technical specifications

| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Frame | Self-supporting A-Frame, galvanised steel or anodised aluminium 6060 T5 |
| Dimensions | 2.0 m (L) × 2.0 m (W) × 1.5 m (H), 4 m² footprint |
| Growing levels | 3 levels of food-grade, UV-resistant PVC NFT channels: 200 / 300 / 400 mm, staggered with 10 cm anti-shading offset |
| Capacity | 48 plants per module, 16 per level |
| Nutrient loops | 3 fully independent closed loops, no backflow between levels |
| Reservoirs | HDPE: 100 L (N1), 50 L (N2), 50 L (N3) |
| Hydraulics | Submersible pump per loop ≥ 30 L/min; Ø25 mm supply / Ø32 mm return; forced aeration; clean-in-place fittings |
| Channel slope | 2% (40 mm over 2,000 mm), 1–3 mm laminar film |
| Monitoring | Independent pH, EC and temperature probes per loop, automated alerts |
| Rotation | Cohort moves up every 20–27 days; 13.5–18.25 harvests per year |
| Lighting | Farm: sunlight + automatic LED top-up. Inside: per-level full-spectrum LED |
| Water | > 80% less than soil-based growing |
| Post-harvest | Fresh-frozen at −38 / −40 °C |
| Intellectual property | Patent application by Ahmed Akafou, OMPIC (Morocco); PCT extension planned; IPC A01G31/02 |

## Built for cooperatives

Designed in Taounate to help Moroccan cooperatives produce more value per square metre with less water, and to create skilled rural jobs.

- **× 3 growing area** on the same footprint
- **− 80% water use**, closed loop with no drainage to soil or groundwater
- **2–3 direct jobs per module:** hydroponics technicians, quality and traceability officers, harvest and maintenance staff

Target provinces: Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen, Taounate, Tétouan.

## Roadmap

| Phase | When | Milestones |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pilot | 2026 | Partner cooperative identified; 3 pilot modules installed; first technicians trained; first production cycles and validated protocols |
| 2. Validation | Year 2 | Agronomic monitoring; economic model validated on real data; commercial partnerships; quality certifications requested |
| 3. Regional rollout | Years 3–5 | Extension to other Rif cooperatives; regional HydroLoop network; target 50 modules across 5 provinces; integrated value chain and collective brand |

## FAQ

### What is HydroLoop Farm?

HydroLoop Farm is a modular vertical hydroponic system designed in Morocco. A self-supporting A-Frame (2.0 × 2.0 × 1.5 m) carries three levels of NFT channels, each with its own independent nutrient loop, and plants move up one level every 20–27 days so the module harvests continuously.

### Who designed HydroLoop Farm and who holds the patent?

HydroLoop Farm was designed by Ahmed Akafou, who is also the patent holder. The patent application was filed with OMPIC (Morocco), with a PCT international extension planned.

### How many plants does one module hold?

48 plants per module: 16 plants on each of the three levels.

### How often does a module harvest?

Every 20 to 27 days depending on the cultivar, which is 13.5 to 18.25 harvests per year, with no idle period between cycles.

### How much water does it save?

More than 80% compared with soil-based growing, because the nutrient solution recirculates in closed loops with no drainage.

### What is the difference between HydroLoop Farm and HydroLoop Inside?

Both share the same frame, loops and rotation. HydroLoop Farm runs in a heated greenhouse on natural sunlight with automatic LED top-up; HydroLoop Inside runs in an opaque room or container with full-spectrum LED differentiated per level and sensors for temperature, humidity, CO₂, pH and EC.

### What does the companion app do?

The HydroLoop Farm Manager, developed by AIWorkPay, logs each batch from seed to harvest, raises alerts on pH, EC, dissolved oxygen, solution temperature and NFT flow, produces an AI agronomy report, predicts the harvest window, generates a QR code per batch, shows analytics and works offline with cloud sync.

### How is traceability handled?

Each cohort receives a unique Taqnin ID Batch identifier recording genetics, operators, dates, environmental readings, harvest weight, freezing curve and destination, aligned with GACP, pre-GMP, ANRAC (Law 13-21) and ONSSA requirements.

### How can I contact HydroLoop Farm?

Email contact@aiworkpay.fr or call / WhatsApp +33 6 02 40 51 47.

## Contact

- **Email:** [contact@aiworkpay.fr](mailto:contact@aiworkpay.fr?subject=HydroLoop%20Farm)
- **Phone:** [+33 6 02 40 51 47](tel:+33602405147)
- **WhatsApp:** [wa.me/33602405147](https://wa.me/33602405147)

Credits: concept, design and patent by **Ahmed Akafou**; HydroLoop Farm Manager app by **AIWorkPay**. Made in Morocco.