Charlie McNairy
Showing 1–2 of 2 transcripts.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
Agritech, Vertical Farming and Food Security
Cathy Burns, Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Al Mehairi, Charlie McNairy, Bob Reiter, David Rosenberg, Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Al Mehairi
A panel of industry leaders from AeroFarms, the UAE Ministry of State for Future Food Security, and International Flavors & Fragrances convened to address the global imperative of supplying 60% more food by 2050 through advanced agri-tech solutions. Key figures such as David Burns and Her Excellency Mariam Al Amiri highlighted strategies ranging from vertical farming automation and seawater agriculture to data-driven yield optimization, aiming to overcome labor shortages and environmental constraints. The discussion underscored a unified shift toward rebranding agriculture as a high-tech sector to attract top talent while leveraging blockchain for transparency and targeted policy reforms to secure sustainable food systems.
- Milken Institute53 min
Urban Farming, Agritech, and Food Security in the Middle East
Mishaal Al Gergawi, Matt Barnard, Karan A. Chanana, Charlie McNairy, Marc Oshima
Industry leaders and investors convened to analyze the convergence of vertical farming, precision agriculture, and geopolitical partnerships as essential responses to a global agricultural capacity gap that currently meets only 20% of fresh produce demand. Experts demonstrated how high-tech indoor manufacturing achieves cost parity with field crops while extending shelf life, whereas traditional horizontal models utilize data-driven efficiency to maximize grain yields and secure long-term offtake contracts. The consensus establishes a dual-path strategy where controlled-environment agriculture specializes in nutrient-dense perishables and conventional farming secures global caloric supply, collectively aiming to eliminate waste and improve food security in both urban and rural sectors.