Dr. Dickson Despommier, Columbia University professor of environmental sciences and microbiology, proposes that building crop farms on top of urban skyscrapers could provide food in land deficient populations and protect the environment. In a recent New York Magazine article, Despommier explains how 150 vertical farms could feed the entire population of New York City.
Sky farms are like huge greenhouses, protecting crops and from foul weather and contaminated runoff. Dr. Despommier even predicts a reduction in global warming because overfarmed land could be re-forested.
Because a skyscraper farm is a big-ticket item, such an idea is still five to ten years out. With populations shifting from rural communities to big cities, Dr. Despommier just might be on to something.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Vertical Farming
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the agriculture industry by building crop farms on top of urban skyscrapers to provide food in land deficient populations and protect the environment.
- Skyscraper Farms
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in urban planning by incorporating large greenhouses on top of buildings to protect crops from foul weather and contaminated runoff while reducing global warming.
- Population Shift
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in urban development to address the shifting populations from rural communities to big cities and the need for sustainable food production.
Where This Applies
- Agriculture
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the agriculture industry by implementing vertical farming techniques in land deficient urban areas to meet the growing demand for food.
- Urban Planning
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in urban planning by integrating skyscraper farms to optimize land use and provide sustainable food sources in densely populated cities.
- Urban Development
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in urban development to create sustainable and self-sufficient cities by incorporating vertical farming solutions in response to the population shift towards big cities.
