Vertical agriculture to maximize space and output

Global Business

The United Nations predicts the global population will grow from just over seven billion people today to 9.6 billion by 2050. Combine growth with climate change affecting farmland and trying to feed the planet could become a challenge. But many see the future of agriculture lying indoors. CCTV’s Karina Huber filed this report.

Highlights:

  • The UN predicts the world population will grow from just over seven billion people today to 9.6 billion by 2050.
  • With more than 50 percent of people living in urban areas, many see the future of agriculture lying in indoor vertical farms that make use of vertical space instead of land.

Dr Dickson Despommier on vertical farming
The father of the vertical farming movement is Dr. Dickson Despommier. He’s a former Columbia University professor of microbiology and public health. In 2010, he published “The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century” which was recently translated into Mandarin Chinese. Karina Huber sat down with him first asked about what he sees as the greatest feature of vertical farms.

Dr Dickson Despommier on vertical farming

The father of the vertical farming movement is Dr. Dickson Despommier. He's a former Columbia University professor of microbiology and public health. In 2010, he published "The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century" which was recently translated into Mandarin Chinese. Karina Huber sat down with him first asked about what he sees as the greatest feature of vertical farms.