Short, sharp points of view on:
- How controlled environments are changing what we can grow and when
- The role of vertical farming in food security and public health
- Why innovation in agriculture needs coordinated investment and policy
What does the future of farming look like?
Growing resilience in a changing world
2 March 2026
00:00:02:02 - 00:00:04:08
Climate change, growing populations
00:00:04:08 - 00:00:07:11 and geopolitical tensions threaten how we feed ourselves.
00:00:07:16 - 00:00:14:02 The tendency even for rich countries is to push for some component of localization.
00:00:14:08 - 00:00:16:21 you either produce it, but if you don't produce it,
00:00:16:21 - 00:00:20:20 you have to source it from somewhere and it needs to get to you in time
00:00:21:10 - 00:00:24:17 According to the World Economic Forum,
00:00:24:17 - 00:00:27:17 one third of global greenhouse emissions come from the food industry.
00:00:27:20 - 00:00:29:14 How can we do better?
00:00:29:14 - 00:00:32:14 Innovative solutions are emerging.
00:00:36:21 - 00:00:41:15 ten years or more, the technology to grow leafy greens indoors.
00:00:41:23 - 00:00:43:05 It has been mastered.
00:00:43:05 - 00:00:45:16 And there's a product of hyroponic systems.
00:00:45:16 - 00:00:46:12 Okay.
00:00:46:12 - 00:00:49:16 On the shelves of the carrefour's and, and the supermarkets
00:00:49:20 - 00:00:53:18 These controlled environments offer something traditional farming cannot.
00:00:53:21 - 00:00:57:05 Consistency regardless of external conditions.
00:00:57:07 - 00:01:01:08 Because of the weather conditions here, usually farmers will grow seven month.
00:01:01:17 - 00:01:05:17 And the open field 6 to 7 month in greenhouses.
00:01:05:22 - 00:01:07:04 8 to 9 month.
00:01:07:04 - 00:01:09:18 In vertical farming we can grow 12 months.
00:01:09:18 - 00:01:13:13 But today's innovations are pushing beyond just extending seasons.
00:01:13:20 - 00:01:16:08 They're redefining what's possible to grow.
00:01:16:08 - 00:01:21:11 the technology is still developing to grow fruit in the crops.
00:01:21:11 - 00:01:23:05 And this is one of those challenges.
00:01:23:05 - 00:01:27:10 It's allowing this technology and working with local farmers,
00:01:27:12 - 00:01:30:15 These advancements couldn't come at a more critical time,
00:01:30:20 - 00:01:34:13 as our global systems face converging pressures on food security
00:01:35:02 - 00:01:39:22 There is a $15.2 billion funding gap for food system innovation
00:01:40:02 - 00:01:44:10 that could support ending hunger, keeping emissions within two degrees Celsius,
00:01:44:18 - 00:01:47:13 and reducing water use by 10%.
00:01:47:13 - 00:01:51:10 all these geopolitical changes coupled with extreme weather
00:01:51:13 - 00:01:55:05 increasing population, puts lots of stress on the food
00:01:55:05 - 00:01:58:21 production, food logistics and food distribution.
00:01:59:11 - 00:02:02:21 While in some jurisdictions vertical farming has experienced
00:02:02:21 - 00:02:06:06 setbacks, there's been value in learning by doing.
00:02:06:19 - 00:02:10:01 by bringing production closer to consumers,
00:02:10:01 - 00:02:13:13 vertical farming creates resilience against these global disruptions.
00:02:13:21 - 00:02:16:21 Offering a path to feed our growing population.
00:02:17:09 - 00:02:22:14 By 2050, the world's population is projected to surpass 9 billion people.
00:02:23:00 - 00:02:26:03 What this translates to, in agricultural terms
00:02:26:03 - 00:02:32:05 is a 59 to 98% increase in global food demand over the next three decades.
00:02:32:23 - 00:02:37:16 Perhaps most promising is vertical farming potential to transform food access
00:02:37:16 - 00:02:41:00 in communities where fresh produce is scarce or unaffordable.
00:02:43:16 - 00:02:47:01 The local populations, whether the UAE or Saudi Arabia,
00:02:47:06 - 00:02:51:09 they suffer a lot from obesity, they suffer a lot from diabetics.
00:02:51:18 - 00:02:55:18 So developing the palate for healthy food, for greens,
00:02:55:19 - 00:02:58:17 even at a younger stage, having access to greens,
00:02:58:17 - 00:03:01:21 this definitely contribute to the general welfare of the country.
00:03:02:03 - 00:03:04:02 How do we move forward?
00:03:04:02 - 00:03:08:11 GHD recommends governments mobilize agriculture, investment and research.
00:03:08:11 - 00:03:11:22 While the private sector can raise capital, galvanize
00:03:11:22 - 00:03:15:02 infrastructure, innovation and advanced technologies.
00:03:15:12 - 00:03:18:06 Additionally, communities can advocate for mindful
00:03:18:06 - 00:03:21:05 consumption and sustainable living practices.
00:03:21:16 - 00:03:25:15 The future of food is growing up, bringing nutrition, security
00:03:25:17 - 00:03:28:17 and possibility to everyone, everywhere.
00:03:29:15 - 00:03:33:00 Learn more with Nexis published by FD.
00:03:33:18 - 00:03:35:02 Where ideas connect.
00:00:04:08 - 00:00:07:11 and geopolitical tensions threaten how we feed ourselves.
00:00:07:16 - 00:00:14:02 The tendency even for rich countries is to push for some component of localization.
00:00:14:08 - 00:00:16:21 you either produce it, but if you don't produce it,
00:00:16:21 - 00:00:20:20 you have to source it from somewhere and it needs to get to you in time
00:00:21:10 - 00:00:24:17 According to the World Economic Forum,
00:00:24:17 - 00:00:27:17 one third of global greenhouse emissions come from the food industry.
00:00:27:20 - 00:00:29:14 How can we do better?
00:00:29:14 - 00:00:32:14 Innovative solutions are emerging.
00:00:36:21 - 00:00:41:15 ten years or more, the technology to grow leafy greens indoors.
00:00:41:23 - 00:00:43:05 It has been mastered.
00:00:43:05 - 00:00:45:16 And there's a product of hyroponic systems.
00:00:45:16 - 00:00:46:12 Okay.
00:00:46:12 - 00:00:49:16 On the shelves of the carrefour's and, and the supermarkets
00:00:49:20 - 00:00:53:18 These controlled environments offer something traditional farming cannot.
00:00:53:21 - 00:00:57:05 Consistency regardless of external conditions.
00:00:57:07 - 00:01:01:08 Because of the weather conditions here, usually farmers will grow seven month.
00:01:01:17 - 00:01:05:17 And the open field 6 to 7 month in greenhouses.
00:01:05:22 - 00:01:07:04 8 to 9 month.
00:01:07:04 - 00:01:09:18 In vertical farming we can grow 12 months.
00:01:09:18 - 00:01:13:13 But today's innovations are pushing beyond just extending seasons.
00:01:13:20 - 00:01:16:08 They're redefining what's possible to grow.
00:01:16:08 - 00:01:21:11 the technology is still developing to grow fruit in the crops.
00:01:21:11 - 00:01:23:05 And this is one of those challenges.
00:01:23:05 - 00:01:27:10 It's allowing this technology and working with local farmers,
00:01:27:12 - 00:01:30:15 These advancements couldn't come at a more critical time,
00:01:30:20 - 00:01:34:13 as our global systems face converging pressures on food security
00:01:35:02 - 00:01:39:22 There is a $15.2 billion funding gap for food system innovation
00:01:40:02 - 00:01:44:10 that could support ending hunger, keeping emissions within two degrees Celsius,
00:01:44:18 - 00:01:47:13 and reducing water use by 10%.
00:01:47:13 - 00:01:51:10 all these geopolitical changes coupled with extreme weather
00:01:51:13 - 00:01:55:05 increasing population, puts lots of stress on the food
00:01:55:05 - 00:01:58:21 production, food logistics and food distribution.
00:01:59:11 - 00:02:02:21 While in some jurisdictions vertical farming has experienced
00:02:02:21 - 00:02:06:06 setbacks, there's been value in learning by doing.
00:02:06:19 - 00:02:10:01 by bringing production closer to consumers,
00:02:10:01 - 00:02:13:13 vertical farming creates resilience against these global disruptions.
00:02:13:21 - 00:02:16:21 Offering a path to feed our growing population.
00:02:17:09 - 00:02:22:14 By 2050, the world's population is projected to surpass 9 billion people.
00:02:23:00 - 00:02:26:03 What this translates to, in agricultural terms
00:02:26:03 - 00:02:32:05 is a 59 to 98% increase in global food demand over the next three decades.
00:02:32:23 - 00:02:37:16 Perhaps most promising is vertical farming potential to transform food access
00:02:37:16 - 00:02:41:00 in communities where fresh produce is scarce or unaffordable.
00:02:43:16 - 00:02:47:01 The local populations, whether the UAE or Saudi Arabia,
00:02:47:06 - 00:02:51:09 they suffer a lot from obesity, they suffer a lot from diabetics.
00:02:51:18 - 00:02:55:18 So developing the palate for healthy food, for greens,
00:02:55:19 - 00:02:58:17 even at a younger stage, having access to greens,
00:02:58:17 - 00:03:01:21 this definitely contribute to the general welfare of the country.
00:03:02:03 - 00:03:04:02 How do we move forward?
00:03:04:02 - 00:03:08:11 GHD recommends governments mobilize agriculture, investment and research.
00:03:08:11 - 00:03:11:22 While the private sector can raise capital, galvanize
00:03:11:22 - 00:03:15:02 infrastructure, innovation and advanced technologies.
00:03:15:12 - 00:03:18:06 Additionally, communities can advocate for mindful
00:03:18:06 - 00:03:21:05 consumption and sustainable living practices.
00:03:21:16 - 00:03:25:15 The future of food is growing up, bringing nutrition, security
00:03:25:17 - 00:03:28:17 and possibility to everyone, everywhere.
00:03:29:15 - 00:03:33:00 Learn more with Nexis published by FD.
00:03:33:18 - 00:03:35:02 Where ideas connect.
Climate change, population growth and global instability are putting pressure on how we produce and access food. This video explores how vertical farming is changing agriculture through consistent production and improving access to fresh food.
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