C Conclusion Though much of the knowledge used in the development of the Polydome concept is not new, it is the way in which this knowledge has been combined that is unique. The Polydome concept shows how we can move away from monocultures while maintaining a modern, highly-efficient approach to food production. By combining the unique benefits of greenhouses with the many untapped opportunities of polycultures, we create a system that creates a multitude of positive impacts: on individuals, on economic health, and on the environment. The primary innovation of Polydome ultimately lies in its absolute maximization of production density and diversity. To our knowledge, no other commercial food production facility is capable of outputting comparable diversity and yield. This aspect alone makes it a promising direction for sustainable agriculture. The more concentrated our food production, the more land can be spared from going under the plow. Even more exciting is the realization, that by following through on the design principles of Polydome to their fullest extent, we can achieve something previously unheard of in human history: net zero-impact food production. By using the latest greenhouse technologies, we can ensure that all energy and water used within the system come from renewable sources. By applying intelligent design, we can eliminate drudgerous labor and allow the animals within the system to retain their natural behaviors. Relying on carefully designed plant interactions and soil care to manage pests and diseases will eliminate the need for chemicals. Locating the greenhouse near points of direct consumption will cut out the entire impact chain associated with the packaging and transport of food. If they work as modeled, Polydome systems could revolutionize food production. For the first time in history, we could have cities that are net food producers, capable of supporting themselves from within rather than relying on vast tracts of hinterland. A city the size of Rotterdam (600.000 residents, a total of 20.600 hectares of land), would require between 120 and 600 hectares to provide 80% of its food needs, or less than 3% of its total land area. This means that Polydome is a potentially vital building block of a resilient, sustainable society. We estimate that the entire population of the Netherlands could be largely fed using between 3.200 - 8.000 hectares of Polydome greenhouses, which is considerably less than the 10.000+ hectares currently under greenhouse cultivation. Even though the Polydome concept needs to be further developed and tested, the potential it holds cannot be ignored. We must start on the path towards truly sustainable food production: Polydome can be one of the routes. Polydome: High Performance Polyculture Systems 91 Pagina 90
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