{Conceptual portrayal of the future of aquafarming, artist unknown}
As further conceptualization of vertical farming develops, so to in the opposite direction. The necessities for vertical and aqua farms are essentially the same; as population rapidly grows, there is simply not enough land required to feed and fuel the world.
Last week we discussed futures in submersed frontiers. Recently, off the coast of Scotland, it looks as though experts are advocating further research into seaweed farming for its use as heating and fuel.
Professor Mike Cowling, science and research manager at The Crown Estate, said:
Given Scotland's rugged western coastline and island groups, and relatively clean seas, it is sensible to examine the farming of seaweeds and sustainable harvesting of natural supplies as a source of energy, to heat our homes and fuel our vehicles.
Heating and transport make up around three quarters of our energy use so it's vital that we find new ways of meeting that demand.
Extracting energy from seaweed is a particularly efficient and reliable method of producing green energy, and growing of seaweed could have positive impact on local marine biodiversity.
If the continuous study and discovery of new technologies produce beneficial means of sea biofuel production, it might be inevitable that land speculation transitions to coastal seabeds. Again, new layers of Google Sea will enable potential seabed buyers, along with their hired marine specialists to easily assess value of future biofuel harvesting.
It's doubtful that we'll transition off oil soon enough in anyone reading this's lifetime that we would see those on the ground floor of algae and seaweed biofuel production to become the next oil/energy tycoons. But it is without a doubt that a time of exploration into unconventional frontiers is upon us, and those willing and able to pioneer their development will surely profit from it.
Related: Submersed Frontier, Up on the Farm