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Author Topic:   Is The World Getting Better Or Worse?
Stile
Member
Posts: 4295
From: Ontario, Canada
Joined: 12-02-2004


Message 35 of 762 (838793)
08-28-2018 8:54 AM
Reply to: Message 33 by Taq
08-27-2018 4:51 PM


Taq writes:
The big one would be food, and from what I can see there is still plenty of arable land available across the globe. The Green Revolution has produced massive increases in food yield per acre, as well as created new varieties that can grow in places where it couldn't be grown before.
There's going to be another big one in the next 5-10 years.
Vertical farms are becoming a thing (growing indoors).
The idea of hydroponic growing indoors has been around for a long time.
But only recently has the electrical costs of the lighting (thanks to new LED technology) come down enough to make it viable to be done commercially for a profit.
The first few (in Canada - I don't know about other countries) are just starting to be organized/built right now.
These are simple - growing mostly just what's referred to as "micro greens" - easily grown plants that usually take only 4 - 25 days or so to grow enough to be harvested.
But if they're successful... and there doesn't seem to be much standing in their way... larger farms will follow as technology progresses. Larger farms = larger plants.
I have no idea if it will be "big enough" to make a significant impact in this or that market... but my guess is it will eventually replace most farming just as automation has eventually replaced most assembly lines. It's simply more efficient - much greater harvesting yield for the resources you put into it.
If it's possible (economically and physically) it just makes more sense - you can control your environment -> no pests to worry about.
And you also don't have to worry about fertile ground -> you can put a vertical farm in wherever you can put up a building and run electricity to it. Out in the desert. Middle of a big city. Wherever.

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 Message 33 by Taq, posted 08-27-2018 4:51 PM Taq has not replied

  
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