Why the future of humanity depends of vertical farms, linear cities and mass population transfers
US company Crop One has announced the opening of the world’s largest vertical farm in Dubai. Initially, the news might seem like just another illustration of the Emirate’s obsession with having the world’s biggest everything, but it makes a lot of sense. Dubai, and the Emirates in general, located in the middle of a desert, imports most of its food, and until recently, sourcing foodstuffs locally was impossible.
Now, with the progressive development of vertical farming techniques, things are changing: because it requires 95% less water than conventional agriculture, no pesticides, and is energy efficient and predictable, it is now cheaper to grow vegetables in the middle of the desert than import them. With a contract to supply the catering for Dubai’s national carrier, Emirates, and the possibility of accessing local markets, along with kosher and other certifications, it is relatively easy to consider building a farm anywhere.
Conventional farms are increasingly subject to extreme weather events, making them a risky proposition, which is why the idea of growing legumes on an industrial scale and feeding the population through a much shorter and less complex logistics chain is so attractive.
