What did you learn about dietary choices from using the footprint calculator? Now imagine that you could translate what you learned into an effective societal policy on food- what would it be? And how would this policy effect the need to alleviate world hunger?
925 million people on earth do not have enough to eat according to the FAO [Food and Agricultural Organization]. That's almost 1 in 7 inhabitants of our planet!
Food & Hunger >
"Film Farming"
A groundbreaking new form of farming has beed developed that uses no soil and saves up to 90% of water. This is called Film Farming. Based in Dubai, this method uses a film-like material to cultivate the plants on. The film-like material is a hydromembrane composed of water-soluble polymer and hydrogel. Through this, the plants develop many fine, dense roots that attach to the hydromembrane to absorb water and nutrients. The plant then regulates the production of sugars, amino acids, and other nutrients in high quantities to promote absorption of water and nutrients by prompting osmotic shift (the movement of water from high concentration to low concentration). Due to all of this, not only is water and soil saved, but very nutritious veggies are grown too! In addition, pathogens that may develop in the culture medium of the film are fully controlled because they have no way of passing through the hydromembrane. Hence, the perfect solution!