Photonics itsself is not a challenge to be solved. It is an enabling technology and as such can be a part of a solution for problems in the space of C13. Therefore I put it here. These are some existing trends with examples. Please feedback if there is interest for a brainstorming or other session.
Background: Modern agriculture is highly industrialised and uses a lot of chemicals. This diminishes biodiversity and degrades the soil, reducing its carbon storage capacity. Biological agriculture is basically the same but exercises some restraint in the use of those methods.
Regenerative agriculture is a set of practices that puts the health of the soil froont and center. Thereby, it imncreases its capacity to store carbon, protects biodiversity, and can even bring higher profits (cf. this recent study from BCG and NGO NABU: https://www.nabu.de/imperia/md/content/nabude/landwirtschaft/230526-bcg-nabu-studie-der-weg-zu-regenerativer-landwirtschaft-langversion.pdf )
Problem: I have visited a farm that practises regenerative agriculture. What I learned is, that the practice is still in its infancy and the tools are often built by enthusiasts themselves. This makes it very labour-intensive, inefficient, and unattractive.
Solution: Develop specialised tools, machines, software, and automation to make regenerative agriculture more afficient and attractive.
Based on this and a few other things it's easy to see the carbon footprint of coffeee production is bad and growing.
https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10118702/#:~:text=The%20average%20carbon%20footprint%20of,1%20for%20sustainable%20coffee%20production.
Existing farmers are also losing their ability to grow (land) due to climate change.
While it's not the best crop to grow in such conditions (density) is there a valid case for localising and optimising coffee production by growing it under artifical conditions close to where it is used (continent level if not country level)?
Coffee is hard to grow, but if possible to achieve then maybe it is also a template for other foodstuffs.
I've done a level of research on this (not much, but some i.e. I have a spreadsheet of some rough numbers) and have been considering setting up some experiements, but so far this has been more of a passing intrest (I like gardening also...) than a serious play.
If anyone is interested in progressing this either out of casual intrest or seriously let me know.
