Tech | June 16, 2008 | 32 comments

Vertical Farming

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sforte
By the year 2050, nearly 80% of the earth's population will reside in urban centers. Applying the most conservative estimates to current demographic trends, the human population will increase by about 3 billion people during the interim. An estimated 109 hectares of new land (about 20% more land than is represented by the country of Brazil) will be needed to grow enough food to feed them, if traditional farming practices continue as they are practiced today. At present, throughout the world, over 80% of the land that is suitable for raising crops is in use (sources: FAO and NASA). Historically, some 15% of that has been laid waste by poor management practices. What can be done to avoid this impending disaster?
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32 comments // Vertical Farming

  • slamber
  • shelchak
    • 0
      shelchak  
    • I don't think the whole issue is that we're running out of land. There is also the issue of how to 'buy locally' -- and vertical farming would certainly help city dwellers with that part of it!!

      Wonderful idea, and it's great to see creative architectural minds cogitating how to make this possible. Imagine living in the city, and waking up to the smell of apple blossoms and tomato vines.

    • 3 years ago
  • mrpibb19
    • 0
      mrpibb19  
    • Great idea for crowded metropolitan areas.

      BUT PLEASE! Do not make the mistake of thinking we're running out of land... I mean, head out West or into Canada... Russia... Africa... Australia... Forrests all over Europe and South America... HECK! even Antarctica with the warming trend we have now...

      3 billion more people is hardly a threat.

    • 3 years ago
  • arturogarza
    • 0
      arturogarza  
    • I think that there is farmland in Texas where farmers are paid not to plant and that the US systematically burns some amount of unused produce already, but that is just the way I was educated as a young boy. I don't have substantial figures.

    • 3 years ago
  • magaikenus
    • 0
      magaikenus  
    • Wouldn't the food be affected by urban pollution like car exhaust? Or would these towers be enclosed in glass to keep the filthy metropolitan atmosphere out? Cities are dirty places folks...

    • 3 years ago
  • notonourwatch
  • bubl_415
  • superfinet
  • Neghie
  • bakpa79
    • 0
      bakpa79  
    • I'm ready to give up my job, throw on some overalls, and head to my roof!

      Hell, i could farm in the day, and head to the club at night!

    • 3 years ago
  • shroomfairy
  • hombre76
    • 0
      hombre76  
    • I knew there had to be other people out there thinking of this. This has so much potential beyond agriculture for food. Besides allowing for the production of produce needed to feed a city, these type of facilities can be set up next to the boi-fuels processing plant they could also be feeding. Possibly with non food stuffs like the algae based Bio-fuels grown by Agra Rise in similar High Rise buildings. This not only would cut down on land needed for agriculture while eliminating the need for pesticides to be used on our food but also address worries about climate change that may be plaguing our traditional agricultural areas for years to come. Another use I have envisioned is using some of the sequestered carbon used to help the growth of these gardens and then capturing and releasing the oxygen produced by the plants back into the atmosphere, sort of a terra-forming effort. I think it is also worth while to point out that this type of independence from reliance on foreign resources will take away a lot of the power that colonialists used to manipulate the less powerful. All and all I think it is a marvelous idea. I hope to see one built soon in my city.

    • 3 years ago
  • meganclemens
  • ILiveonaClock
  • Ola_McGee
  • nicsansone
    • 0
      nicsansone  
    • Just like the Electric car senario... Cargil or someone with lots of money and now worries will buy up all the plans and destroy them...

      I love this Idea... Vertical!

      Lets get some regulations set to require on for every Metropolitian

    • 3 years ago
  • meganclemens
  • Rjc808
  • romanista
  • spoonieday
    • 0
      spoonieday  
    • this is what i do on a small scale with my balcony now. it doesn't get rid of my grocery bill but it cuts it down and I know where my veg comes from. it's grown about twelve feet from where it is cooked. I know it's not for everyone, but its a great stress reducer, very calming and I really like having the option. it's a shame that more apartment buildings don't incorporate garden space onto patios.

    • 3 years ago
  • bradleyc1
    • 0
      bradleyc1  
    • Image
    • spoonieday:

      have you seen these?

      On The Edge Pots
      "Michael Hilgers offers a modern take on the traditional window flower box with his On The Edge Pots (2006). Designed to straddle the railing of a balcony, the pots are made from water-resistant polyethylene and can rest on any railing with a maximum thickness of 60mm. Two separate compartments offer multiple planting options. The On The Edge Pot is ideally suited for urban dwellers with limited outdoor space, but can easily be used in the workspace or restaurants to liven up a patio"

      i think they're a great idea! just won't fit on my balcony : (

    • 3 years ago
  • cerealforeal
    • 0
      cerealforeal  
    • Don't know if that's good news or not. Maybe we can get help from those space Nazi's to wipe out the majority of the world's population to prevent a food crisis in the future.

    • 3 years ago
  • benjaminV
    • 0
      benjaminV  
    • I've been waiting for this! Soooo cool. SOO needed. Now we just need to be able to grow beef tissue in a lab and we won't have to tear down the rainforests anymore!

    • 3 years ago
  • Dmitri_Molotov
  • Ola_McGee
  • SpookyFish
    • 0
      SpookyFish  
    • Vertical farming is the future.

      By growing crops in this manner, we would grow enough food for everyone, create jobs, and save land from the damage of 'slash and burn' methods of farming that have left the Amazon devastated.

    • 3 years ago
  • Dmitri_Molotov
  • Uelthomas
    • 0
      Uelthomas  
    • I had a vision of city kinda like this. Platform ontop of platforms forming layers. On top level parks, fields, orchards and houses. Underneath industries, offices, power plants etc.

    • 3 years ago
  • Argon18
  • PoisonTheMonkey
    • 0
      PoisonTheMonkey  
    • Looks like this is the only option. With golf courses, mansions and other things wasting valuable land that could be used for farming, we're running out of land.

    • 3 years ago
  • CarlosIsDown
  • sforte
    • 0
      sforte  
    • Dickson Despommier on Colbert Report - Stephen asks him if growing food in vertical towers is an elitist way to farm.

    • 3 years ago
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