Another Hit to GMOs

MIT Media Lab has developed “food computers” that become the brain for greenhouses

For years, one of the strongest arguments for GMOs was that the technology allows for crops to be grown in regions that traditionally have not been fertile for growing – and that would enable us to feed the growing population across the globe. 

Well, take that off the list. MIT Media Lab has developed “food computers” that become the brain for greenhouses that constantly adjust the internal climate to find the perfect combination of light, humidity, and nutrients for a specific crop. 

In fact, according to the Media Lab, this technology is so advanced that the inputs can even be modified to make vegetables, for example, tastier by boosting a plant’s production of specific flavor molecules. I’m imagining the same can be done for specific nutrients. 

Another benefit is sustainability. No longer would fruits and vegetables have to be shipped thousands of miles – giving new meaning to the word local. An example they give is “Instead of shipping avocados from Mexico to China, a Chinese greenhouse could precisely re-create a Mexican climate in Beijing.” 

Or in a supermarket. We have already reported on the number of supermarkets adding greenhouses to their footprint – this technology can advance this effort and enable a grocer to offer their customers unique produce items that might have been unattainable – or unaffordable.