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Why the future of humanity depends of vertical farms, linear cities and mass population transfers
US company has announced the of . 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 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.
