Sustainable Future Podcast: Seeing the Future of Agriculture
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In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with microbiologist and Columbia University Professor Emeritus Dr. Dickson Despommier to discuss his pioneering work and thought leadership on vertical farming. Beginning as a thought experiment for his students in 1999, Dr. Despommier quickly recognized the impact that vertical farming could have in revolutionizing our food systems and mitigating climate change. Since then he has been a tireless advocate for this sustainable food practice, and has helped throw the doors open on the viability of vertical farms. Join us for a conversation on food, sustainability, and how a microbiologist came to re-envision the future of agriculture and the power of the built environment to do so.
Guest
Dr. Dickson Despommier Ph.D
Columbia University
Dickson Despommier is an emeritus professor at Columbia University, having spent thirty eight years as a professor of microbiology and public health in environmental health sciences, where he has won the Best Teacher award six times, and received the national 2003 American Medical Student Association Golden Apple Award for teaching. He developed his concept of vertical farming over a 10-year period with graduate students in a medical ecology class beginning in 1999. The project, 'Vertical farming and the creation of the Eco-city.' had the goal of integrating technologies that enable a city to discard the grids of food, water, energy and transportation, empowering each building to exist autonomously
Host
Steven Peck, GRP, HASLA
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
Steven spearheaded the first green roof demonstration project on Toronto City Hall 20 years ago and the mandatory green roof policy in Toronto a decade ago. This innovative policy has resulted in more than 6 million additional square feet of green space across the city. Due to Steven’s work, GRHC has helped to win green roof policy victories in San Francisco, Washington, DC; Portland, Oregon; and Denver, Colorado. Steven also founded Green Infrastructure Ontario coalition to bring together organizations that share an interest in the protection and development of green infrastructure in Ontario. In 2007 he co-founded the World Green Infrastructure Network, an international organization that promotes the use of green infrastructure around the world.
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