Dickson Despommier

Born in New Orleans, Dickson Despommier grew up in California and later New York. He holds a Ph.D. in microbiology from Notre Dame and conducted bio-medical research for nearly 30 years at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

Despommier’s latest project focuses on his interest in the environmental damage sustained through human encroachment. In his book, The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century, he looks to produce significant amounts of food crops in tall, skyscraper-like buildings in urban areas. The idea has been gathering momentum, capturing the attention of developers and city planners around the world.

Despommier has lectured on the topic of vertical farming at MIT, Harvard and the United States Department of Agriculture. He currently lives in Fort Lee, New Jersey with his wife.