Emirates is building a giant vertical farm to feed airline passengers

Eyewitness News ^ | August 16, 2018 | Alex Gray, World Economic Forum

[Jeff Chandler]

A gimmick. The yups will eat it up.

[a fool in paradise]

To feed a growing global population, which could reach 9.1 billion by 2050, world food production will need to rise by 70%.

That isn't a 70% increase in population, so why is it a 70% increase in food needs?

Stop growing crops for fuel and you'll have some food back in supply for dining.

[Fungi]

“no agricultural runoff,” Really? So what exactly is in the water that is fed to them? It’s liquid fertilizer, and it is not all absorbed, so there is “run-off.”

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

A gimmick.

Not really. Vertical farming has been going on since the Middle Ages.

This is perfect for cities. There's no need to bring in produce from Central and South America anymore. Fruit and vegetables can be grown in Northern Wisconsin!

My only question is the energy. I would say small-scale nuclear power plants are an option.

[DariusBane]

Not a single Arab will design it.

[MichiganCheese]

No mention of the method to harvest 5 stories high...

[Deaf Smith]

"will feed passengers of Emirates..."

Can they grow a steer in this vertical farm?

"Where's the beef?"

[tflabo]

For a part- time experiment a home gardener could setup a wintertime greenhouse with a vertical hydroponic system. Got to have a heater though and some runoff rain water could be recycled. Wouldn’t need artificial light with the greenhouse.

[lastchance]

Just how high up are these farms gonna go?

[caver]

Oh wow, they invented hydroponics....

[Army Air Corps]

Jet packs.

[BobL]

“That isn’t a 70% increase in population, so why is it a 70% increase in food needs?”

Agree, given the obesity epidemic, I don’t think there’s a one-for-one correlation. Also, to break bad news to the doomsayers, I doubt world population continues to increase that fast, as it’s slowing down everywhere, particularly in the Third World.

[blackdog]

Bottom line = Calories per unit of energy to produce? All the lettuce and kale in the world is useless from a needed calories basis.

Now accomplish the same with carbohydrate rich, protein rich, and needed fats adequate, foods and you've got something. We all starve on lettuce and good intentions.

[Michael.SF.]

Not exactly an original concept:

[yesthatjallen]

High enough so planes flying by can restock in-fight.

[rockrr]

“Soylent Green is people”

[TexasGator]

“A gimmick. The yups will eat it up.”

Why is it a gimmick?

[Moonman62]

“Transportation costs account for about 4% of the energy in the food system. The energy for electric lights is much greater than that,” he told The New York Times.

...

That’s not the impression the corrupt media has been giving for many years.

[digger48]

If the veggies are anything like hydroponic tomatoes, they are for looks only.

Pretty and consistent, but absolutely flavorless.