Hydroponics: means working water. Many different civilizations have utilized hydroponic growing techniques throughout history. Hydroponics is an ancient method of growing plants and giant strides have been made over the years in this innovative area of agriculture. One of the applications of hydroponics that drove research was growing fresh produce in non-arable areas of the world and areas with little to no soil. Hydroponics was also used during World War II to supply troops stationed on non-arable islands in the Pacific with fresh produce grown in locally established hydroponic systems.