The Future Looks Vertical

Sep 13 2011, 4:39 PM ET Comment

As our global population increases, scientists say we'll need to convert more land to farm use -- 20 percent more than is in all of Brazil. But how will we find so much arable land when most of it is already in use today?

By raising our food in "farmscrapers" -- tall, purpose-built vertical farms. These buildings would have transparent walls, sloped to catch the light. Some might be shaped like giant crystal balls. Most would use grow lights, parabolic mirrors, and fiber optic cables to provide the exact amount of light crops need to thrive, both day and night. Hydroponics would cut back on water use. The farms could be located in cities, near to where their food would be consumed, thus lowering their carbon footprint.

Being indoors, they wouldn't be subject to changing weather. Overall, they would be highly productive: One indoor acre could produce as much food as four to six outdoor ones, depending upon the crop.

A city-block-size vertical farm 30 floors high could feed 50,000 people. Some 160-odd such structures could feed everyone in New York City. Once enough vertical farms were constructed, conventional farms could be converted to the wild for "carbon farming," which could heal much of the damage to the environment.

Vertical farm proponents say the necessary technology already exists. In South Korea, there's a working vertical farm four floors high. Elsewhere, fundraising efforts are underway. Holding us back is the energy cost: While the buildings would be designed to catch the sun, a lot of artificial light would be needed to raise crops year-round.

Proponents say a solution can be found through wind and solar energy and recycling biomass -- they say the future is looking up.

The Center for Urban Agriculture offers a perfect example of these theories at work. Conceived by Mithun, a national leader in sustainable design and urbanism since 1949, the Center for Urban Agriculture" (CUA) was originally imagined for downtown Seattle. Designed with a focus on food, water, and energy, the CUA's agricultural features would include fields for growing vegetables and grains, greenhouses, rooftop gardens, and even a chicken farm.