Smart City: How Can We Feed 10 Billion People? | Future Smart City Projects | Urban Farming

Summary

The video script addresses the urgent challenge of feeding a growing global population projected to reach 10 billion by 2050, with a focus on the innovative agricultural practices in the Netherlands. It highlights precision farming and high-tech agriculture as potential solutions, showcasing the Dutch efficiency in food production despite limited land. The script delves into smart greenhouse technologies, data-driven farming, and the use of artificial intelligence to optimize plant growth. It also touches on the environmental impact of traditional farming and the vision for sustainable, local food production, hinting at a future where agriculture is a high-tech sector capable of meeting the world's food demands sustainably.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The world's population is projected to reach 10 billion by 2050, with over two-thirds living in cities, highlighting the need for sustainable food production.
• 🚀 Despite technological advancements, one in nine people are starving, indicating a disconnect between technology and food availability.
• 🌾 Food production is a significant contributor to environmental degradation, with practices like deforestation for soy plantations and water depletion in agriculture.
• 🇳🇱 The Netherlands, despite being a small country, is the world's second-largest food exporter, achieving this through precision farming and high-tech agriculture.
• 🌱 Wachlingen University is at the forefront of sustainable agriculture research, exploring optimal growth conditions for plants through data collection and computer modeling.
• 💡 The use of sensors and computer models helps measure and simulate photosynthesis, allowing for the optimization of plant growth conditions.
• 🏭 Westland, known as the 'food factory' of the Netherlands, is home to state-of-the-art indoor farms that are part of the push towards precision farming.
• 🌡️ Controlled environment agriculture is presented as a solution to the unpredictability of weather, aiming to produce food sustainably and efficiently.
• 💧 Water efficiency is critical in modern agriculture, with recirculation systems reducing water consumption by up to 90% compared to traditional farming.
• 🤖 The future of agriculture is envisioned to be high-tech, with artificial intelligence and robotics potentially making greenhouses completely autonomous.
• 🌱 The concept of a 'digital twin' is introduced, which is a computer program that mimics plant growth, allowing for precise control of growing conditions.

Q & A

What is the estimated world population by 2050?

The world's population is estimated to reach 10 billion by 2050.

What proportion of the world's population is expected to live in cities by 2050?

Over two-thirds of the world's population will be living in cities by 2050.

How does the script describe the current state of food production in relation to technological progress?

Despite technological progress in agriculture, food production is one of the industries causing environmental harm, such as deforestation and water scarcity.

What is the significance of the Netherlands in global food export?

The Netherlands is the world's second-largest exporter of food by dollar value, after the United States.

What is the term used to describe the Dutch region that is a hub for agricultural innovation?

The term used is 'Food Valley,' which is the Dutch equivalent to Silicon Valley.

What is the main focus of research at Wachlingen University as mentioned in the script?

Wachlingen University focuses on finding sustainable ways to feed the world in the coming years through high-tech agriculture.

What is the role of sensors in optimizing plant growth according to the script?

Sensors are used to measure various conditions like photosynthesis, carbon dioxide levels, and temperature to create accurate computer models for optimal plant growth.

What is the concept of a 'digital twin' in the context of agriculture as described in the script?

A digital twin is a computer program with a recipe for growing plants, which tells a smart greenhouse the exact conditions needed for the best possible results.

How does the script suggest addressing the issue of water scarcity in agriculture?

The script suggests using a circular economy approach where excess water not used by plants is collected and reused, dramatically increasing water efficiency.

What is the potential future vision for food production as presented in the script?

The vision is to produce food in a sustainable way near big cities, reducing the need for transportation and increasing local food production, while also requiring less land than traditional agriculture.

What is the role of artificial intelligence in the future of agriculture as discussed in the script?

Artificial intelligence, combined with existing knowledge and data collected by sensors, can optimize growth conditions, predict harvest times and quantities, and potentially make greenhouses autonomous.

How does the script address the concern about the affordability of high-tech agriculture for underdeveloped regions?

The script acknowledges that while technology will get cheaper, it may not be the complete solution for all regions and that traditional outdoor farming will still be necessary.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 Global Population Growth and Food Production Challenges

The script addresses the impending issue of the world's growing population, projected to reach 10 billion by 2050, with a significant majority residing in urban areas. This growth will exacerbate the demand for food, a necessity that current agricultural practices struggle to meet sustainably. The script highlights the environmental toll of food production, such as deforestation in the Amazon for soy plantations and water scarcity issues in regions like southern Spain. It emphasizes the paradox of technological advancement alongside food insecurity, with one in nine people going hungry. The Netherlands is introduced as a potential model for sustainable solutions, being a leading food exporter despite its small size, achieved through precision farming and high-tech agriculture.

05:05

🌱 Precision Farming and Indoor Agriculture Innovation

This paragraph delves into the innovative practices of precision farming in the Netherlands, focusing on the development of indoor farms that are designed to be sustainable and efficient. The script introduces Yup Von Deboss, Chief Innovation Officer at the Radar Group, who discusses the challenges of feeding a growing population with limited resources. The narrative underscores the importance of reducing reliance on traditional farming methods, which are often water-intensive and environmentally harmful. The use of greenhouses equipped with advanced technology, such as LED lighting, water recirculation systems, and sensors, is highlighted as a way to control the growing environment and optimize resource use. The concept of a 'digital twin' is introduced, which is a computer program that simulates plant growth for precise agricultural management.

10:06

🚀 Vision for Sustainable and Localized Food Production

The script presents a vision for the future of agriculture, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices that reduce the environmental impact of food production. It discusses the potential of growing food near urban areas to minimize transportation and the associated carbon footprint, thereby promoting local food systems. The role of technology in creating a circular economy within agriculture is highlighted, with a focus on water and nutrient recycling. The paragraph also touches on the broader implications of this shift for global hunger and the environment, suggesting that while indoor farming may not be a complete solution, it can significantly contribute to addressing food scarcity and environmental degradation.

15:08

🤖 The Future of Autonomous Greenhouses and High-Tech Agriculture

The final paragraph envisions a future where greenhouses are fully autonomous, managed by artificial intelligence and robotics, with human oversight primarily for facility management. It discusses the transformation of agriculture into a high-tech sector, particularly in Europe, where the focus is on creating optimal conditions for plant growth. The script contemplates the challenges of implementing such technology in underdeveloped regions and acknowledges that outdoor farming will continue to be necessary. However, it suggests that the knowledge and technology from advanced agricultural practices can be transferred to areas that need it, potentially doubling food production with half the resources. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for subscribers and an optimistic outlook on the rapid adoption of these technologies.

Keywords

💡World's Population Growth

The term 'World's Population Growth' refers to the increasing number of people living on Earth, which is a central theme of the video. It is projected to reach 10 billion by 2050, highlighting the urgency of addressing food production and sustainability. The script mentions this growth as a driving factor for the need to innovate in agriculture to feed the expanding population.

💡Urbanization

Urbanization is the process of people moving from rural to urban areas. The script states that over two-thirds of the world's population will be living in cities by 2050, which intensifies the challenge of food production in close proximity to where it is consumed, emphasizing the need for efficient urban farming solutions.

💡Food Production

Food production encompasses the methods and industries involved in growing, processing, and distributing food. The video discusses the environmental impact of current food production practices, such as deforestation for soy plantations and water scarcity issues, and explores alternative, sustainable methods like precision farming.

💡Precision Farming

Precision farming is an approach to agriculture that leverages high-tech solutions to optimize crop yields and reduce resource usage. The Netherlands, as highlighted in the script, is a leader in this field, using data and technology to create one of the world's most efficient agricultural systems.

💡Food Valley

Food Valley, likened to Silicon Valley but for agriculture, is a region in the Netherlands known for innovation in farming. The script mentions Wachlingen University, which is a part of Food Valley, as a hub for research into sustainable global food production.

💡Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy. The script describes how scientists use sensors to measure this process, integrating the data into computer models to better understand and optimize plant growth conditions.

💡Controlled Environment Agriculture

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is the practice of growing crops in a controlled setting, such as greenhouses, where factors like light, temperature, and humidity can be manipulated for optimal growth. The video discusses CEA as a sustainable solution to traditional farming challenges.

💡Circulatory Economy

A circulatory economy refers to an economic system aimed at eliminating waste and making the most efficient use of resources. In the context of the video, it is applied to agriculture through water recirculation systems in greenhouses, reducing water consumption significantly compared to open-field farming.

💡Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence in machines to perform tasks. The script discusses the integration of AI in agriculture to analyze data from sensors and create actionable insights for optimizing plant growth, predicting harvest times, and improving overall efficiency.

💡Digital Twin

A digital twin is a virtual model or representation of a physical entity. In agriculture, as mentioned in the script, it can be used to create a computer program that simulates plant growth, allowing farmers to optimize conditions for various crops using a single control system.

💡Autonomous Greenhouses

Autonomous greenhouses are self-managing facilities that use AI and robotics to control all aspects of crop growth without human intervention. The script envisions a future where such technology will be commonplace, leading to more efficient and sustainable food production.

💡Sustainability

Sustainability in the context of the video refers to the ability to maintain agricultural practices over the long term without depleting resources or causing environmental harm. It is a core theme of the video, with various technologies and practices aimed at achieving more sustainable food production methods.

Highlights

By 2050, it's estimated that the world's population will reach 10 billion, with over two-thirds living in cities, creating a significant demand for food.

Despite technological progress, one in nine people are starving, and food production is contributing to environmental destruction.

The Netherlands, despite being a small country, is the world's second-largest exporter of food by value, utilizing high-tech precision farming.

Wachlingen University is a driving force in Dutch agriculture, researching sustainable ways to feed the world.

Plant scientists are using sensors and computer models to optimize plant growth conditions, focusing on factors like light color, CO2 concentration, and temperature.

The concept of 'Food Valley' in the Netherlands is similar to Silicon Valley, focusing on innovation in agriculture.

The world's population growth and urbanization are leading to a need for more sustainable food production methods.

Water scarcity and the depletion of fertilizers are significant challenges for future food production.

Controlled environment agriculture, such as greenhouses, can provide a solution to produce food sustainably and economically.

Modern indoor farms are being developed with advanced technology to control climate and optimize plant growth.

Smart agriculture, including precision farming, can help produce more food with fewer resources.

Greenhouses equipped with sensors and computers can monitor and control conditions for optimal plant growth.

Artificial intelligence can be combined with existing knowledge to improve plant growth and predict harvest outcomes.

A digital twin of a plant is a computer program that mimics plant growth, providing a recipe for optimal conditions.

The vision for the future includes local food production near cities, reducing the need for long-distance transportation.

Smart agriculture aims to reduce land use for food production, potentially allowing land to be returned to nature.

While not a silver bullet, smart agriculture, particularly greenhouses and vertical farms, can contribute significantly to addressing world hunger.

The future of agriculture may see completely autonomous greenhouses managed by artificial intelligence and robots.

The transition to high-tech agriculture could face challenges in underdeveloped regions due to the required investment.

Indoor farming is not a complete solution but can be part of a broader strategy to address food production and environmental concerns.

Transcripts

we have a problem the world's population

is growing

it's estimated that by 2050 we will have

10 billion people living on the surface

of the earth

[Applause]

over two-thirds of the world population

will be living in cities

and these people need to eat

the digital age we live in sometimes

feels like magic

i mean we carry computers in our pockets

and are able to shoot people into space

[Music]

but at the same time one in nine people

are starving

despite technological progress in

agriculture food production is one of

the big industries that is destroying

our planet

in the amazon rainforests are burned

down to create soy plantations

to feed livestock

in southern spain strawberry farming is

drying out the land

and water scarcity is a global problem

[Music]

all around the world nature is being

harmed

by food production

[Applause]

is this what we want

[Applause]

we went to the netherlands to take a

closer look at a potential solution

to this problem

i don't wanna sleep ain't ready to eat i

just wanna creep around my way

it's been a long week now i'm in the

jeep with the dutch treat scoop a couple

peeps

the netherlands is a tiny country it's

over 200 times smaller than the us

but despite its small size the

netherlands is the world's second

largest exporter of food by dollar value

only the united states export more and

the dutch do it

by precision farming high-tech

agriculture

they boast they have developed one of

the most efficient agriculture systems

in the world

and they may be onto something that

mankind will need because as the world's

population increases

food demand will rise today we're

right in the heart of food valley the

dutch equivalent to silicon valley

and this is wachlingen university

[Music]

this university is one of the driving

forces of the dutch agricultural

industry people here are looking for

ways to sustainably feed the world in

the coming years

meet leo marcellus he's a plant

scientist

here this is a research setup where we

are testing

different growth conditions at the

moment we are comparing different types

of

color you're testing different colors on

how the plant works yes

so it is about the color of the light

but it's also about what moment of the

day

the carbon dioxide concentration

humidity

temperature wind flow

so let me paraphrase basically they

collect as much data as they can

about how a plant grows

[Music]

and we integrate that knowledge in

simulation models in computer models of

how the plant

is growing plants grow through a process

called photosynthesis

to put it simply the cells in the plant

turn sunlight

into sugar leo and his team use sensors

to measure this process

so we clip this on the leaf and the

render is photosynthesis

the plant takes up co2 carbon dioxide

and this machine measures in fact how

much carbon dioxide

is taken out of the air what we want

this type of information now we

know how the photosynthesis is doing

then we combine that with

computer models that simulate how

the plant is performing and these type

of data we make the models in fact more

accurate so you you combine the

knowledge that you already have about

this plant

and the data that you collect here to

make the growth of the plant even better

yes and with those models if you can

predict with a model how it would

perform

how it will also perform at a bit

different conditions as this we can

explore

what would be the best set of conditions

do we need to change

the brightness of the light to the color

of the light the temperature

okay stop so scientists like leo are

developing computer models to create the

best

possible growing conditions for plants

but what does this have to do with smart

cities of the future

[Music]

to find out more we're traveling to

westland

a region that people have dubbed the

food factory

of the netherlands

this is the world huawei center

a crossover between a school for

precision farming and a convention

center for agriculture

we're going to meet a company that's

building some of the most

modern indoor farms in the world

my name is yup von deboss and i'm chief

innovation officer

of the radar group i'm responsible for

innovation in greenhouse technology

here this is a demo center for doing

experiments

to gain knowledge about how to grow and

in every of these zones

you see crops this is a pepper crop we

have a cucumber crop we have a tomato

crop

people in the plant industry are aware

of the challenges the world is facing

they even made a film about it so

literally eat this

to know what gives us air to breathe and

then start cutting down these trees

to put wealth over health to see the

world of the future burning

but only focus on today's earnings it's

concerning how little we're actually

learning

so eat this if you think we don't have

enough space

to feed the rapidly growing human race

this manifesto was produced by an

international platform that in their own

words wants to promote healthy and

sustainable solutions to feed the world

eat this is backed by companies like

ritter that build

greenhouses for them precision farming

is the solution

the population in the world is

increasing but also the population in

cities

increasing so we need more food

do we have enough water to to grow our

food do we have enough water in africa

in china we have a water issue

we don't have reliable food production

in a lot of places anymore

[Music]

we're very much used to use fertilizer

we know already by now

that some of the fertilizers will run

out in 20 or 30 years

so what to do then

[Music]

the question is how will we in the end

feed 10 billion people

we want to do it in a sustainable way

and we're going to do it more

sustainable than it is now

uh i think that's a that's a real

challenge but if unreliable weather

conditions lie at the heart of the

problem

why not get rid of unpredictable weather

so instead of producing your food and

flowers outside first part of solution

is

creating a controlled environment to me

the vision is that

controlled environment agriculture is

one of the main solutions for producing

food in a economically good way but also

in a sustainable way it's about the

energy use it's about the water use

it's about nutrient use land use is also

one

and all those aspects can be further

improved

and controlled environment can be as

simple as a as a

plastic cover or as advanced

as the greenhouse here today

with additional lighting leds

water recirculation all the sensors that

you need and the

solution for the future is the mix of

those

different growing systems you can

control the greenhouse

from your laptop on the beach you don't

have to be there

the technology is there to control the

climate

and to make sure the plants are watered

on time

they get the right amount of energy this

is a light sensor

so this sensor measures the amount of

light that comes into the greenhouse

because light is the main growing factor

for plants

and if there's more light plants need

more water they need more

fertilizer they can have a higher

temperature

so light sensor is an

is a key element as the world's

temperature increases

water consumption will become critical

a circular economy plays a big role in

modern agriculture

all the plants here are grown on gutters

every excess drop of water that is not

used by the plants

is collected and reused that

dramatically increases efficiency

growing it in this way you only lose 10

percent

of the water consumption that you use to

do to grow the same amount of tomatoes

outside

so outside takes 10 times the amount of

water

and the trick is recirculation of water

to reach that level of efficiency

greenhouses need to have sensors and

computers

that monitor all the important

conditions for optimal growth

this instrument is sucking air in from

the greenhouse

and inside this box there's a

temperature humidity

and co2 sensor computer control

determines based on the the knowledge

of what the crop needs together with the

sensors

what exactly the amount of water is the

plant is getting

including the amount of fertilizer that

is needed by the plants

the control system controls those motors

those motors they can control the

ventilation

so the roofs for cooling they can

control the screening

to put a sunscreen on if the sun is too

hot

this equipment is already standard for

every modern greenhouse

but what the industry is striving for

now is to make these greenhouses smart

by using the information collected by

the sensors

how do we do this how do we grow

all these things generate a lot of data

already

only having this set of data doesn't

mean anything

you have to transfer that data into

information and actionable insights we

optimize the growth conditions

but also that we can predict when to

harvest how much to harvest

of what quality but to really understand

how a plant growth with all the

physiology in it

and really try to mimic that and improve

it that's

where artificial intelligence combined

with knowledge that's already there

can really improve the the products and

the plants

growing we can control everything we

know exactly

what we produce so we can predict on

that specific day we can produce this

quality and this quantity and we can do

it anywhere

and of course these produces are

biological systems

so these are sometimes a little bit more

difficult to

uh to mimic and to to digitalize but

i think we are well our way with

additional sensors and with the

knowledge of how a plant works

that you can even make a digital twin of

a tomato for example

a digital twin is basically a computer

program with a recipe for growing plants

like a baking recipe it tells your smart

greenhouse which ingredients

and what amounts are needed for the best

possible results

a grower that is growing tomatoes all

his life knows everything about the

tomatoes

can get a control system and with a push

of a button

he's a specialist in growing peppers

people can switch

and be a specialist in something by just

using technology

what is your vision for the future if

you could see ahead 20 years from now

what do you imagine

so my vision is that we produce in a

sustainable way that we produce

very nearby those big cities it's not

necessarily really inside the city but

very nearby maybe on the out skirts

and we will stop transporting food all

over the world

i mean it's not solving everything of

course but it's

you can have more local food production

grow it locally

low food miles and as efficient as

possible

if we now can grow plants on a very

limited land area

we need much less land for producing the

food

than we would use in traditional

agriculture

think about what you can do with all

that land you could also give it back to

[Music]

nature

and do you think smart agriculture is

the answer to

hunger on the world is it the silver

bullet no there is not one silver bullet

and

these greenhouse and vertical farm are

in particular very suitable for fresh

vegetables so that's important for world

hunger

but for world hunger there's more

there's also all the corn and i don't

think we will grow corn

in these facilities i believe we can

double the amount of food that we

produce

with half of the resources just by using

the intelligence

from say the people in the westland or

other areas in the world

where they have the knowledge capture

that knowledge and transplant it to

areas where they don't have the

knowledge today yeah amazing

so when will we have it yeah yeah yeah

that's a good one

what do you think i i think very very

very fast

i i believe that in 10 years from now

this greenhouse will be completely

autonomous

so there is no longer a human needed

we have artificial intelligence and

robots

running the greenhouse and we have just

have people that are managing

the facility

in general we can say agriculture is

turning into a high-tech sector

well at least in europe and creating the

perfect growing conditions for plants

in the arctic in the desert or even on

the moon sounds great

but i wonder if underdeveloped regions

of the world will really be able to

shoulder such an investment

don't get me wrong technology will get

cheaper

and make our lives better but if we want

to feed 10 billion people

we're not going to stop growing crops

outside and if you want to talk about

the environment there's one

small thing we didn't touch on and

that's the impact of livestock

indoor farming is not the answer to all

our problems

but it could be an answer if you like

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[Music]