This week on Straight, No Chaser Katy Keiffer has an in-depth conversation about vertical farming with Dr. Dickson Despommier, the author of The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century. A professor emeritus at Columbia University, Dr. Despommier spent thirty-eight years as a professor of microbiology and public health. Hear some radical ideas including underground farming without daylight and plasma arc gasification. From wind power in Holland to seed banks in Japan, hear about some of the concepts being integrated into new agricultural models across the globe. This show was made possible by Fairway Market. Vertical farming is simply tacking high tech green houses on top of each other and integrating the systems. The concept of vertical farming is not new. If you look back at history you can find hanging gardens of Babylon and references of urban gardening and agriculture - but the timing was wrong. --Dr. Dickson Despommier on Straight, No Chaser