I conceived and drafted a piece for New York magazine, titled Sky Farming, about the concept of growing food in urban structures. While the idea had been around for some time on a small scale (such as hydroponics), “vertical farming” as it is now understood was developed by Dickson Despommier, a professor at Columbia University, who went on to write a seminal book and inspire students and practioners alike.
Since the piece I wrote for New York magazine was published in October 2007, urban farming has gone from futuristic to realistic, with commercial farms being developed around the world. According to New Scientist magazine, “from Singapore to Scranton, Pennsylvania, ‘vertical farms’ are promising a new, environmentally friendly way to feed the rapidly swelling populations of cities worldwide.” Dickson Despommier continues to advance vertical farming through his book, articles, lectures and website.