Dickson Despommier - A Vertical Farming Podcast Tribute

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Hey everyone.

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Harry Duran here, host of

the Vertical Farming Podcast.

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Today's episode is a little different.

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It's a tribute to someone

who is instrumental in

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shaping not just this show.

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I.

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But the entire industry of

controlled environment agriculture.

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This week I learned of the passing

of Dixon Despommier, the man.

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Many considered the godfather

of vertical farming.

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And if you've been a long time listener,

you've heard me reference his book,

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the Vertical Farm, feeding the World

in the 21st Century as one of the

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biggest inspirations behind this show.

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Reading his work back in December of

: 2019

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about food production, sustainability,

and the future of agriculture.

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Without his vision, I honestly don't

know if I would've started this show.

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and I know I'm not alone.

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His ideas have inspired a whole

generation of entrepreneurs,

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scientists, and advocates working

to make vertical farming a reality.

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So today I want to take some time to

reflect on who Dixon Des Palmier was,

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how his work changed the game, and why

his legacy will continue to shape the

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future of agriculture for decades to come.

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I'll also provide links in the show

notes to some recent posts from those in

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the ACT industry that had the privilege

of meeting and studying with him.

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You'll find those very inspiring as well.

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Dixon didn't start out as

an agricultural expert.

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In fact, his background was in

microbiology and public health.

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He was a professor at Columbia

University where he spent decades

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studying parasitic diseases.

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But what made him stand out was that

he was a true innovator, someone who

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could connect seemingly unrelated

fields to solve big problems.

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The idea for vertical farming actually

came out of his work in the late

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1990s when he and his students were

brainstorming ways to solve food

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security issues in urban areas.

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The question that sparked it all.

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What if we could grow food in cities in

a way that required no soil, less water,

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and no dependence on seasons at this time?

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This was radical thinking.

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Most people believed that farming had

to happen on traditional land in open

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fields, but Dixon saw the potential

for cities to become self-sustaining

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ecosystems producing their own food

locally instead of relying on supply

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chains that stretch around the world.

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In 1999, Dixon and the students developed

the first concepts of vertical farming,

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imagining skyscrapers filled with crops.

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Hydroponic systems replacing soil and

cities feeding themselves sustainably.

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It took over a decade for

these ideas to gain traction.

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The technology wasn't there yet.

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The funding wasn't there,

but the vision was.

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His book, the Vertical Farm, published

in: 2010

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It outlined not just the science

behind vertical farming, but also

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the potential environmental benefits

using 95% less water than traditional

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ag growing food year round,

independent of climate conditions.

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eliminating the need for harmful

pesticides, reducing transportation

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costs, and carbon emissions.

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And since 2010, vertical

farming has exploded into a

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multi-billion dollar industry.

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We now see high tech farms in major cities

from New York to Singapore, producing

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fresh produce and controlled environments,

and Dixon's ideas help shape the companies

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and technologies we see today, many

of whom I've interviewed on this show.

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Several even cite his work

as an early inspiration.

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It wasn't just his scientific

knowledge that made him influential.

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It was his ability to communicate

complex ideas in a way that got

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people excited about the future.

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He appeared in countless interviews,

documentaries, and conferences,

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spreading the message that vertical

farming wasn't just an option.

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It was a necessity for

the planet's survival.

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He was also a mentor to

many in the industry.

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And if you ever had a chance to hear him

speak, you know, he had this infectious

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energy, this belief that if we put

our minds to it, we could completely

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redefine how humanity grows food.

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So flashback to December, 2019, One of

my podcast clients at the time gifted me

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the book Abundance by Peter Diamandis.

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In there, there was a reference to

Dixon's book, the Vertical Farm,

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which I immediately purchased

and downloaded to my Kindle.

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I read the book in one sitting.

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I was fascinated by the intersection

of sustainability, technology, and

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storytelling, and here is this guy laying

out a vision that was bold, inspiring,

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and completely ahead of its time.

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I started the Vertical Farming

Podcast because I believe that more

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people needed to hear about this

movement, that the ideas in Dixon's

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book weren't just theoretical, but

were actively shaping the world.

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over the past five years, I had the

privilege of speaking to over 150 CEOs

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and founders of the leading vertical

farming companies from around the world.

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And I feel this show is an extension

of Dixon's legacy as it was.

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One of the major catalysts

for me starting it.

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I believe that's the

mark of a true visionary.

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He didn't just create something.

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He inspired thousands of others

to bring his vision to life.

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And though he's no longer with

us, his work is far from over.

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Vertical farming is still at its

early stages and there are challenges.

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Energy costs, scalability,

long-term viability.

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many of the topics and considerations

we've discussed on this show, but if

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Dixon taught us anything, it's that big

ideas take time to become reality, and

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now it's up to all of us, the researchers,

the farmers, the entrepreneurs, the

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investors, the podcasters to keep pushing

forward, to take the torch and build on

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his legacy, to continue the conversations.

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To educate more people about why

vertical farming matters and to

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innovate, experiment, and create the

sustainable food systems of the future.

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Because at the end of the day, the world

needs more people like Dixon Despommier

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visionaries who dream of a better

future and have the courage to chase it.

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I appreciate you listening and watching to

this special tribute episode, and I hope

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it gives you a sense of just how important

and influential Dixon Despommier was.

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Not just to me but to

this entire industry.

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If his work has inspired you in

any way, I'd love to hear from

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you, connect with me on LinkedIn

or any of the socials, or email me,

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harry@verticalfarmingpodcast.com.

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Let's keep his vision alive by continuing

the conversation and sharing his ideas.

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And if you haven't read The Vertical

Farm, I recommend picking up a copy.

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Even now, it remains one of

the most visionary books on

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sustainable ag ever written.

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I'll provide a link in the show notes.

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Rest in peace, Dr.

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Despommier, your work lives on,

and until next time, stay curious.

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Stay innovative.

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And keep growing.