Japanese High-Tech Films Revolutionize Food

A new method for growing crops does away with soil, instead using a special transparent polymer film for roots to grip. Originally developed as a permeable membrane for artificial kidneys, this film allows crops to be grown in deserts or other places without suitable soil. And because it’s so simple to manage the nutrient and water supply, now anyone can start farming with no special training. Polymer film technology is also being used for food and beverage containers, dramatically extending storage life for their contents. Invented in Japan, these groundbreaking films could change the way people worldwide grow and store food.