Foresight Video Shorts 12

Robots typically feature in this Video Shorts series, and this week is no different with an incredible shape-shifting example. This time, we also look at a number of sustainability related examples, and the potential concern of supercomputers creating their own language. The videos are from Mashable, World Economic Forum, WasteEd, and Digital Trends.

​1. This reconfigurable robot is able to change its entire body shape on a link-by-link basis. Via Mashable. 

2. Google AI supercomputers have created their own secret language. Should we be worried? Via World Economic Forum. 

3. You can soon start booking carbon-free trips in this fully electric flying taxi. Via WasteEd. 

4. 95% less water and 99% less land — is intelligent agriculture the future for farming? Via Digital Trends. 

5. Charging forward - Learn more about Britain's plans to reach net zero emissions. Via World Economic Forum. 

​Image Source: Hans Braxmeier /  https://pixabay.com/photos/telescope-by-looking-view-122960

Informing Choices Mini-Pod - The Future of Sustainable Urban Agriculture

Agriculture is responsible for nine percent of all Greenhouse Gas emissions in the UK, according to Farm Carbon Toolkit. These emissions are the result of livestock rearing and natural processes, crop fertilisation using chemical fertilisers, materials used to build and maintain farms, energy use of farm buildings and vehicles, transport and distribution during and after growing, soil based emissions from disturbing soils, and waste produced as a result of farming processes. So how might the urbanisation of agriculture change this landscape in the future?

To talk about the Future of Sustainable Urban Agriculture, I am joined on the podcast by Diana Davidson, who helps enterprise develop performance for the zero carbon emissions economy, to explore:

• What are the critical drivers for the urbanisation of agriculture?
• What are the specific enabling technologies for urban agriculture?
• How do you see urbanised agriculture integrating with smart city concepts?
• How will the urbanisation of agriculture impact rural life and change land management in the future?

You can listen to the podcast on You Tube by clicking below  or on the Anchor podcast platform, here. 

You can learn more about Diana and her work on LinkedIn, on Twitter, and on her website, vertemis.com. 

Image Source: https://www.agritecture.com/blog/2018/5/2/the-future-with-urban-farming

Foresight Video Shorts 9

For this set of videos, we start with an overview of seven technology tipping points that have the potential to radically change aspects of our world. We also take a look at farming, robotics, and gene technology. The videos are from Digital Trends, Mashable, and World Economic Forum.

1. Seven technology tipping points we could reach by 2030. Via World Economic Forum. 

2. This farm is turning a desert green as it looks to the future. Via Mashable. 

3. CRISPR is a method that could help you burn fat. Via Digital Trends. 

4. This farm is run by robots and AI. Via Mashable. 

5. This could be the beginning of home robots. Via Mashable. 

Image Source: Hans Braxmeier / https://pixabay.com/photos/telescope-by-looking-view-122960