# Vertical Farming Progams The Square Roots Initiative Trains Urban Dwellers in Sustainable Growing By M | Published 2016-08-23 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/farming-program References: [fastcoexist](https://www.fastcoexist.com/3063092/kimbal-musks-new-accelerator-in-brooklyn-will-train-vertical-farmers) & [squarerootsgrow](http://squarerootsgrow.com/) The Square Roots is a campus farming program designed to help teach and educate urban dwellers about the benefits and sustainability of vertical farms with an accelerated curriculum. The program is structured to help build awareness about the changing food industry and how companies, brands and individuals can aid in creating more sustainable food by learning the new growing practice. Vertical farming is the cultivation of food on a vertical plain where much less space is used and the food grows upwards rather than horizontally. The Square Roots program is put together by Tobias Peggs and Kimbal Musk as an educational platform that teaches about [vertical farming](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aerospring-pinch-hydroponic-system) using shipping containers supplied by [Freight Farms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oku-house) and [plant towers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hydroponic-tower) from ZipGrow. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.6/10 - Popularity: 58% | Activity: 41% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Vertical Farming Education:** The Square Roots Initiative offers accelerated curriculum to educate urban dwellers on the sustainability of vertical farms, paving the way for more programs to educate on this growing practice. - **Sustainable Food Production:** The program offers awareness about the changing food industry and how companies, brands and individuals can aid in creating more sustainable food production methods. - **Vertical Farming Technology:** The use of shipping containers and plant towers in the program highlights a growing trend in vertical farming technology that is disrupting traditional farming methods. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Agriculture:** Vertical farming technology presents disruptive innovation opportunities for the agriculture industry to increase efficiency, reduce resource consumption, and create sustainable food production methods. - **Education:** The Square Roots Initiative demonstrates an innovative approach to educating on sustainable food production, providing opportunities for others in the education industry to develop similar programs. - **Technology:** The use of technology in vertical farming, such as shipping containers and plant towers, presents disruption innovation opportunities for the technology industry to create and improve upon sustainable farming technology. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Expansive Local Vertical Gardens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/onefarm-vertical-farm.md) - [Tech-Driven Farming Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/siemens-and-80-acres-farms.md) - [Zero-Emissions Fresh Deliveries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/urbe-square-roots.md) - [Automated Commercial Kitchen Gardens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/instafarm.md) - [Urban Food Ecosystems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/living-sphere.md) - [Enclosed Vertical Farms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eco-1.md) - [App Controlled Indoor Gardens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hydroponic-farm.md) - [Structural Smart Indoor Gardens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantafrom-smart-indoor-garden.md) - [Modern Indoor Farm Stands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/indoor-farm-stand.md)