World hunger could worsen as cropland becomes scarcer and the Earth’s population increases. A Columbia University environmental health scientist thinks the solution lies in building high-rise, indoor farms right in the heart of the world’s cities. Dickson Despommier says that such farms could grow a variety of foods using hydroponics. That means no need for pesticides, fertilizers, or good soil, which is an issue in poor regions. It would take 4 to 6 acres of land outdoors to match the crop yield of just 1 acre indoors. The farms could raise chickens, pigs, and fish, too, all in a controlled, closed system. It will take a lot of work for engineers to make “vertical farming” a reality, but Despommier notes that the necessary technologies already exist.

Watch this video about vertical farming:

Filed under: Agricultural, Architectural, Civil, Environmental, Explore Engineering, Industrial / Manufacturing

Tags: Agricultural, Architectural, Engineering Is, Environmental, Green Technology