Think: I’ve written extensively on the power of the human imagination but I’d never contemplated the notion that we are “living in the product of other peoples’ imagination”–and, yet, it is true. As I argue in this post, The Future as Battle of Imaginations, this startling insight of “living in the imagination of other people” serves to remind us that we are not passive observers of the creative process. We all have the power and agency–through our imaginations–to create a better future. The question is: Will we use this power for the benefit of our neighbors and humankind?
Think in Questions: This past week, I had the pleasure of addressing 500 young farmers in Iowa. During my keynote, I posed an unusual question: Why should they care about a new line of cocktails now being served at the Ritz Hotel in London? As I explain in this piece, the answer is biodynamic farming.
Think Globally: It should go without saying that the future is created everywhere. Still, it is easy for all of us to get stuck in our own bubbles. In my case, I can be a little U.S.-centric in my reading and thinking. Over the years though I have come to deeply respect the work of Belgian futurist Peter Hinssen. He recently shared this insightful post: Four Chinese Innovation Trends to Watch in 2025. If you don’t have time to read the article, this year Hinssen expects China to become: 1) the “GenAI factory of the world,” 2) the leader in robo-taxis (65 cities in China will have driverless cars by the end of the year); and 3) a global power in flying cars or EVOTL’s–or Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing Vehicles. (By 2030, the city of Shenzhen may have 10,000 flying cars zipping across its skyline. Imagine that!)
Think More Organically: As we become more aware of the long-term impact of fertilizer on the environment, scientists are finding innovative ways to transform the fertilizers used in farming. Ammonia, for example, is a key ingredient in fertilizers and its production consumes about 2 percent of global energy–making it the chemical industry’s top CO2 emitter. However, this could change very soon. Scientists recently discovered a new eco-friendly method of synthesizing ammonia using Earth’s natural geological processes. In a separate development, researchers at the John Innes Centre recently discovered a biological mechanism that makes plant roots more hospitable to microbes. The net effect is that by leveraging the natural, mutually beneficial relationship between the soil and plant root, farmers could improve nutrient uptake and, thus, significantly reduce the use of inorganic fertilizers.
Think Smarter: Microsoft Research has recently announced MatterGen–an AI that designs materials for the future. The use of generative AI to more efficiently create new materials has the potential to make renewable energy dramatically more cost-effective.
Think Again: I speak a great deal about regenerative agriculture but, as these two articles suggest, there is still much to learn and debate about the topic: “Regeneratively Farmed” is the New Buzzword on Supermarket Shelves, But What Does it Mean? and Yes, He’s a Regenerative Agriculture Skeptic.
Afterthought: “Friends are those rare people who ask how we are, and then wait to hear the answer.”
