A radical project to increase reliance on cactus farms won the first prize in a competition called 'Dry Futures,' which called for design solutions to California's drought. The idea laid on the premise that in order to make a dent in California's water consumption, the crops it planted would need to change.
Cacti need very little water to survive, making them an ideal plant for environments like California to cultivate. However, few in North America view these plants as valuable. However, architect Ali Chen suggested ways to change this by building a "hybrid burning man-esque cactus farm, wastewater purifying plant and eco-resort."
Cactus farms would be used in the restaurant of the resort, raising awareness of its potential as a food ingredient for both human cuisine and for livestock. Its water-purifying power would also be capitalized on and the entire project would courageously aim to turn cacti into a hot commodity.
Californian Cactus Farms
This Proposal Suggests Cacti as California's New Drought-Tolerant Crop
Trend Themes
1. Drought-tolerant Crop - The proposal to cultivate cacti as a drought-tolerant crop presents disruptive innovation opportunities in agriculture and farming.
2. Water-purifying Power - Capitalizing on the water-purifying power of cacti opens up disruptive innovation opportunities in wastewater treatment and purification systems.
3. Awareness of Cactus as Food - Raising awareness of cacti as a potential food ingredient for human cuisine and livestock creates disruptive innovation opportunities in the food industry and livestock farming.
Industry Implications
1. Agriculture - Implementing cactus farming as a drought-tolerant crop offers disruptive innovation opportunities in the agriculture industry.
2. Wastewater Treatment - Exploring the water-purifying capabilities of cacti presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the wastewater treatment industry.
3. Food and Livestock - Promoting cacti as a food ingredient for human cuisine and livestock presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the food industry and livestock farming sector.