This Robotic 'Plantscraper' Will Feed Thousands

The world’s population continues to swell: 9.6 billion people will populate Earth by 2050, with 66% of them living in cities. With numbers like that, many municipalities, politicians, sustainability experts and other stakeholders are wondering just how all these people are going to be fed – and something called a ‘robotic plantscraper’ could be the answer.

A new building under construction in Lindköping, Sweden is tackling the problem of food shortage in a unique way. Plantscrapers, office towers populated by enormous indoor farms, are set to feed more than 5000 people annually – and that’s just from one building, which will be multi-purpose. It’s been developed as a ‘vertical space-efficient greenhouse for the urban environment’.

Fresh veg growing alongside the conference room

Swedish food-tech company Plantagon is behind the innovation and it’s asking cities to look seriously at what it considers a viable solution to world hunger problems. The first such plantscraper, The World Food Building, is currently under construction and will hydroponically grow vegetables. The farming will be largely automated, meaning robots will perform many of the duties.

According to Business Insider Nordic, the plantscraper will generate more food while using less land and water, and CEO Hans Hassle estimates the tower will save 13 million gallons (almost 50 million litres) of water annually. In addition to the farm and office spaces, there will be restaurants, as well as a market where people can buy vegetables grown on site.

The designers believe urban agriculture is the future and hope the plantscraper will become an urban model for cities around the world. Plantagon is already in talks with developers, both in Sweden and in other cities around the world, including in the US, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The company is also working on other innovative ideas to solve world food shortages, including a prototype of a globe-shaped building.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.