Throughout the last century, the world has changed at an unprecedented rate. Climate change and a growing population have driven the agricultural industry to innovate and adapt. Current technological advancements form strange and unfamiliar hydroponic farms creating artificial horizons across the landscape. The notion of a farmer shifts similarly now, incorporating scientific roles into automated, climate-controlled spaces that are unresponsive to the external world—leading me to question whether someday automation will lead to the independent cultivation of our food without any human interaction.
Investigating the future of my food sources and their impact on the land, I examine various farms throughout New England. Regardless of extreme weather, each constructed environment remains constant: from shipping containers to greenhouses to the countryside to urban warehouses. Within these spaces, vegetation is idealized in a dirt-less climate in which nutrient-rich water substitutes soil and LED lights artificially substitute the sun.
In this work, I observe the shift in the agricultural industry and the perceived sustainability and economics of these hydroponic farms for generations to come. I consider how they may influence trade as they grow crops where they wouldn't otherwise sustain life, consequently benefiting those who live in food deserts and extreme climates providing access to fresh local produce.