The face of agriculture is dramatically changing in and around cities worldwide. From Anchorage, Alaska to Tokyo, Japan, multi-story indoor farms provide fresh produce, fish and other products to local residents. Some facilities are greenhouses using natural sunlight, others use grow lights. Proponents of these farms argue they use less water and pesticides, while reducing transportation costs and carbon emissions. But critics argue they are not cost effective and consume too much energy. Guest host Maria Hinojosa and a panel of guests discuss the pros and cons of indoor urban farms for this month’s Environmental Outlook.
Guests
- Stan Cox senior scientist, The Land Institute, a non-profit research organization
- Dickson Despommier professor emeritus of public health and microbiology, Columbia University; author of “The Vertical Farm: Feeding Ourselves and The World in the 21st Century”
- Sabine O’Hara dean, College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, The University of the District of Columbia
- Will Allen founder and CEO, Growing Power Inc., a non-profit organization based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Matt Matros CEO, FarmedHere, a 90,000-square foot indoor farm in Bedford Park, Illinois