Feb 14 2025 8 mins 5
In this special tribute episode of The Vertical Farming Podcast, I honor the life and legacy of Dr. Dickson Despommier, the visionary who laid the foundation for vertical farming as we know it today.
His book, The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century, completely changed the way I thought about food production, sustainability, and the future of agricultureReading it in 2019 was a turning point for me—it was the spark that led to the creation of this podcast.
Over the years, I’ve spoken with over 150 CEOs and founders in the industry, and so many of them cite Dr. Despommier as a major influence on their work. His vision of growing food in urban skyscrapers was once considered radical, but today, it’s shaping the future of sustainable agriculture.
Though he’s no longer with us, his ideas continue to inspire, and it’s up to all of us—researchers, farmers, entrepreneurs, and investors—to carry his vision forward. This episode is my way of saying thank you to a man whose ideas changed my life—and the world.
Additional Social Tributes
Honoring Dr. Dickson Despommier: The Visionary Who Planted the Seeds for Vertical Farming’s Future - Henry Gordon-Smith
Thanks to Our Sponsors
Indoor AgCon - https://indoor.ag
Resources Mentioned
The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century, by Dickson Despommier - https://amzn.to/3QhWWyY
Connect With Us
VFP LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/verticalfarmingpodcast
VFP Twitter - https://twitter.com/VerticalFarmPod
VFP Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/direct/inbox/
VFP Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VerticalFarmPod
Subscribe to our newsletters!
AgTech Digest - https://agtechdigest.com
The Indoor Farmer - https://www.indoorverticalfarm.com/
Horti-Gen Insights - https://www.hortigeninsights.com/
🎙️🎙️🎙️
Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast
Mentioned in this episode:
AgTech Companies
https://agtechcompanies.com
2025 US Indoor Farm Report
http://verticalfarmingpodcast.com/report
