traveling to Mars or some distant planet.

正前往火星或某個遙遠的星球。

The travel time could take a year

旅行時間可能需要一年

or even longer.

或甚至更長。

The space on board and the resources

太空艙的空間和資源有限。

would be limited.

所以，你和組員必須有 以最小的投入來生產食物的方法。

So you and the crew would have to figure out how to produce food

如果你只能帶幾包種子，

with minimal inputs.

並且在幾個小時內種出農作物來？

What if you could bring with you just a few packets of seeds,

如果這些作物生出更多的種子，

and grow crops in a matter of hours?

使你可以僅用最初的那幾包種子， 在旅程上充分供食給全體組員？

And what if those crops would then make more seeds,

美國太空總署的科學家已想出辦法。

enabling you to feed the entire crew

他們想出了挺有意思的辦法，

with just those few packets of seeds for the duration of the trip?

牽涉到微生物，

Well, the scientists at NASA actually figured out a way to do this.

是單細胞有機體，

What they came up with was actually quite interesting.

而且用到水中的氫。

It involved microorganisms,

他們用的微生物 被稱為「嗜氫菌」，

which are single-celled organisms.

用這些嗜氫菌就可以 創建一個良性的「碳循環」，

And they also used hydrogen from water.

足以維持太空船上的生命。

The types of microbes that they used were called hydrogenotrophs,

太空人呼出二氧化碳，

and with these hydrogenotrophs, you can create a virtuous carbon cycle

然後微生物捕獲二氧化碳，

that would sustain life onboard a spacecraft.

並轉換成富含營養與碳的作物。

Astronauts would breathe out carbon dioxide,

太空人吃下這些富含碳的作物，

that carbon dioxide would then be captured by the microbes

以二氧化碳的形式呼出碳來，

and converted into a nutritious, carbon-rich crop.

微生物再度捕獲這些二氧化碳，

The astronauts would then eat that carbon-rich crop

製造出營養作物，

and exhale the carbon out in the form of carbon dioxide,

再經由太空人 以二氧化碳的形式呼出來。

which would then be captured by the microbes,

如此，形成了封閉的碳循環。

to create a nutritious crop,

為什麼這很重要？

which then would be exhaled in the form of carbon dioxide

人類需要碳來維生，

by the astronauts.

並從食物中獲取碳。

So in this way, a closed-loop carbon cycle is created.

在漫長的太空旅程中，

So why is this important?

根本無法沿途取得任何碳，

We need carbon to survive as humans,

所以必須想辦法在艙裡， 將碳回收再利用。

and we get our carbon from food.

這是個聰明的解法，對吧？

On a long space journey,

但事實上， 這些研究並未獲得實證。

you simply wouldn't be able to pick up any carbon along the way,

我們還沒去過火星， 還沒去過其他的星球。

so you'd have to figure out how to recycle it on board.

這項研究實際上是在 60和70年代完成的。

This is a clever solution, right?

我的同事約翰 • 里德博士和我，

But the thing is, that research didn't really go anywhere.

對於地球的碳循環很有興趣。

We haven't yet gone to Mars. We haven't yet gone to another planet.

我們希望對於氣候變遷 提供技術解決方案。

And this was actually done in the '60s and '70s.

透過閱讀60年代已發表的論文 －自1967年以後的論文－

So a colleague of mine, Dr. John Reed, and I,

我們發現了這項研究。

were interested, actually, in carbon recycling here on Earth.

我們認為這是很棒的主意。

We wanted to come up with technical solutions

地球其實像艘太空船。

to address climate change.

我們的空間和資源有限，

And we discovered this research

我們確實需要在地球上找出 更有效的碳回收再利用法。

by reading some papers published in the '60s -- 1967 and later --

因此，我們有個想法：

articles about this work.

是不是能採用某些太空總署的方法，

And we thought it was a really good idea.

來解決地球的碳問題呢？

So we said, well, Earth is actually like a spaceship.

能不能培養太空總署類的微生物

We have limited space and limited resources,

做成對地球有價值的產品呢？

and on Earth, we really do need to figure out

我們成立了公司，來實踐這個想法。

how to recycle our carbon better.

我們公司發現這些嗜氫菌

So we had the idea,

－我稱它們為大自然的 「超級碳回收員」－

can we take some of these NASA-type ideas and apply them

我們發現這些在過去

to our carbon problem here on Earth?

多半被忽略、缺少研究的 強大微生物，

Could we cultivate these NASA-type microbes

可以被做成極有價值的產品。

in order to make valuable products here on Earth?

於是我們開始在實驗室裡 培養這些微生物。

We started a company to do it.

我們發現能用這些微生物 把二氧化碳製成必需氨基酸。

And in that company, we discovered that these hydrogenotrophs --

我們甚至做出了富含蛋白質的餐點，

which I'll actually call nature's supercharged carbon recyclers --

其中含有類似動物蛋白的氨基酸。

we found that they are a powerful class of microbes

我們進一步培養它們，

that had been largely overlooked and understudied,

發現能製出油來。

and that they could make some really valuable products.

油可用於製造許多產品。

So we began cultivating these products, these microbes, in our lab.

我們做出類似柑橘油的油品，

We found that we can make essential amino acids from carbon dioxide

可用於調味和當作香料，

using these microbes.

也可當作可生物分解的清潔劑，

And we even made a protein-rich meal

甚至做為噴射機的燃料。

that has an amino acid profile similar to what you might find

我們做出了類似棕櫚油的油品。

in some animal proteins.

棕櫚油被用來製成 各式各樣的消費品和工業產品。

We began cultivating them even further,

我們開始與廠商合作，拓展技術，

and we found that we can make oil.

目前我們正合作

Oils are used to manufacture many products.

要將一些產品上市。

We made an oil that was similar to a citrus oil,

我們相信這一類技術確能幫助我們

which can be used for flavoring and for fragrances,

回收二氧化碳 做成有價值且能獲利的產品，

but it also can be used as a biodegradable cleaner

對地球和企業都有益的產品。

or even as a jet fuel.

這就是我們現今正在做的事情。

And we made an oil that's similar to palm oil.

但未來，這類型的技術 和微生物的應用，

Palm oil is used to manufacture

可幫助我們成就更大的事業，

a wide range of consumer and industrial goods.

如果我們將它提昇到另一層次。

We began working with manufacturers to scale up this technology,

我們認為這類型的技術，

and we're currently working with them

將能幫助我們解決農業問題，

to bring some of these products to market.

建立可永續經營的農業形態，

We believe this type of technology can indeed help us

擴展產能以滿足未來的需求。

profitably recycle carbon dioxide into valuable products --

為何我們需要可永續經營的農業呢？

something that's beneficial for the planet

事實上，預測顯示：

but also beneficial for business.

到2050年， 世界將達到百億人口，

That's what we're doing today.

預期我們需增加 70%的糧食產能。

But tomorrow, this type of technology and using these types of microbes

此外，我們還需要更多的 資源和原物料，

actually could help us do something even greater

來製造消費品和工業產品。

if we take it to the next level.

因此，我們要如何擴展產能 以滿足需求呢？

We believe that this type of technology

現代農業根本無法持續擴展， 以滿足此一需求。

can actually help us address an issue with agriculture

有許多的原因 :

and allow us to create a type of agriculture that's sustainable,

其中一個原因是，現代農業 是最大的溫室氣體排放源之一。

that will allow us to scale to meet the demands of tomorrow.

事實上，農業排放的溫室氣體，

And why might we need a sustainable agriculture?

比我們汽車、卡車、飛機與火車 加總的排放量還要多。

Well, actually, it is estimated

另一原因是，現代農業 使用大量的土地。

that the population will reach about 10 billion by 2050,

我們已用了1,940萬平方英里 的土地來種作物和養牲畜。

and we're projecting that we will need to increase food production

那有多大呢？

by 70 percent.

面積約為南美洲和非洲的總和。

In addition, we will need many more resources and raw materials

讓我給你一個具體的例子。

to make consumer goods and industrial goods.

在印尼，約當愛爾蘭 面積大小的原始熱帶雨林

So how will we scale to meet that demand?

在2000至2012年間被剷除。

Well, modern agriculture simply cannot sustainably scale to meet that demand.

試想，在這過程中 所傷害的各式物種與其多樣性，

There are a number of reasons why.

無論是植物，昆蟲，或動物。

One of them is that modern agriculture is one of the largest emitters

而且，天然的碳匯也被破壞了。

of greenhouse gases.

讓我為你呈現真實的樣貌。

In fact, it emits more greenhouse gases

剷除這些雨林地，主要是為了 騰出空間來種植棕櫚樹。

than our cars, our trucks, our planes

正如我前面所提到的，

and our trains combined.

棕櫚油用來製造許多產品。

Another reason is that modern ag simply takes up a whole lot of land.

事實上，估計顯示 超過50％的消費產品

We have cleared 19.4 million square miles for crops and livestock.

是以棕櫚油為生產原料。

What does that look like?

包括：冰淇淋、餅乾、

Well, that's roughly the size of South America and Africa combined.

食用油、

Let me give you a specific example.

清潔劑、乳液、肥皂。

In Indonesia, an amount of virgin rainforest was cleared

在你我的廚房和浴室中，

totaling the size of approximately Ireland,

可能都有許多棕櫚油的製成品。

between 2000 and 2012.

所以，你和我皆是 消失雨林的直接受益者。

Just think of all of the species, the diversity,

現代農業存在一些問題，

that was removed in the process,

必須有解決方案才能 擴大和永續經營。

whether plant life, insects or animal life.

我相信微生物是答案的一部分；

And a natural carbon sink was also removed.

尤其是這些超級碳回收員，

So let me make this real for you.

這些超級碳回收員，

This clearing happened primarily to make room for palm plantations.

像植物一樣，

And as I mentioned before,

在它們活躍的生態系統中， 扮演著自然資源回收者的角色。

palm oil is used to manufacture many products.

它們活躍在地球上特異的地方，

In fact, it is estimated that over 50 percent of consumer products

像是深海溫泉區和溫泉中。

are manufactured using palm oil.

在這些生態系統中， 它們將碳回收再利用，

And that includes things like ice cream, cookies ...

轉換成這些生態系統 所需的養分。

It includes cooking oils.

而它們含豐富的營養成分，

It also includes detergents, lotions, soaps.

例如：油、蛋白質、 礦物質，和碳水化合物。

You and I both probably have numerous items

事實上，微生物已是我們 日常生活中不可或缺的一部分。

in our kitchens and our bathrooms

如果你喜歡在星期五晚上 喝杯黑皮諾紅酒，

that were manufactured using palm oil.

以犒賞一週工作的辛苦，

So you and I are direct beneficiaries of removed rainforests.

那你即是在享受微生物的作品。

Modern ag has some problems,

若你喜飲本地小酒廠釀製的啤酒，

and we need solutions if we want to scale sustainably.

那也是微生物的產物。

I believe that microbes can be a part of the answer --

其他像是麵包、乳酪、優酪乳，

specifically, these supercharged carbon recyclers.

也都是微生物的產品。

These supercharged carbon recyclers,

但是，這些超級碳回收員的力與美，

like plants, serve as the natural recyclers

在於它們能夠在 短短的數小時內產出產品，

in their ecosystems where they thrive.

而不是耗費幾個月。

And they thrive in exotic places on Earth,

這意味著我們可以遠比今日

like hydrothermal vents and hot springs.

更快的速度來生產作物。

In those ecosystems, they take carbon and recycle it

它們毋需陽光生長，

into the nutrients needed for those ecosystems.

所以它們可以在任何季節、

And they're rich in nutrients,

任何區域或地點生長。

such as oils and proteins, minerals and carbohydrates.

它們可以在極小的容器中生長。

And actually, microbes are already an integral part of our everyday lives.

我們可以進行垂直型農業。

If you enjoy a glass of pinot noir on a Friday night,

不同於我們傳統的水平型農業，

after a long, hard work week,

垂直型所需的土地不多，

then you are enjoying a product of microbes.

可垂直擴展，

If you enjoy a beer from your local microbrewery --

結果是每單位面積 能生產更多的產品。

a product of microbes.

如果施行這類型的農法， 並且使用這些碳回收員，

Or bread, or cheese, or yogurt.

就毋需砍伐更多的熱帶雨林，

These are all products of microbes.

來供給我們的食品與貨物的消耗。

But the beauty and power associated with these supercharged carbon recyclers

因為，若大規模生產，

lies in the fact that they can actually produce in a matter of hours

每單位土地面積將有萬倍的產出；

versus months.

例如，如果種植大豆，

That means we can make crops

在同一塊土地上種植一年後，

much faster than we're making them today.

一年會有一萬倍的產出。

They grow in the dark,

這是我要傳達的新型農業，

so they can grow in any season

是個能夠永續經營，

and in any geography and any location.

滿足百億人口需求的農業。

They can grow in containers that require minimal space.

這種新型農業 生產什麼樣的產品呢？

And we can get to a type of vertical agriculture.

我們已經做出了蛋白粉，

Instead of our traditional horizontal agriculture

所以不難想像 我們可做出類似大豆粉、

that requires so much land,

玉米粉或甚至麵粉。

we can scale vertically,

我們已做出油，

and as a result produce much more product per area.

所以不難想像 亦可做出類似於椰子油、

If we implement this type of approach and use these carbon recyclers,

橄欖油，或大豆油的東西。

then we wouldn't have to remove any more rainforests

這類型的作物真能產生營養成分，

to make the food and the goods that we consume.

供應我們麵條、麵包、

Because, at a large scale,

蛋糕，和許多種類的營養品。

you can actually make 10,000 times more output per land area

此外，因為油被廣泛用來 製造許多其他商品、

than you could -- for instance, if you used soybeans --

工業產品和消費類產品，

if you planted soybeans on that same area of land

可想像用這類作物來製造 清潔劑、肥皂、乳液等。

over a period of a year.

總而言之，不僅地球 所剩的空間有限，

Ten thousand times over a period of a year.

若我們繼續以現狀施行農法，

So this is what I mean by a new type of agriculture.

我們將面臨剝奪後代 擁有美麗地球的風險。

And this is what I mean by developing a system

但是毋需這樣，

that allows us to sustainably scale to meet the demands of 10 billion.

我們可以想像豐饒的未來。

And what would be the products of this new type of agriculture?

讓我們創造一個不僅讓地球 －我們的太空船－

Well, we've already made a protein meal,

免於崩潰的系統，

so you can imagine something similar to a soybean meal,

也發展益於我們自己、

or even cornmeal, or wheat flour.

益於2050年後的百億地球人

We've already made oils,

所生存的生活方式與系統。

so you can imagine something similar to coconut oil

非常感謝你。

or olive oil or soybean oil.

（掌聲）

So this type of crop can actually produce the nutrients

that would give us pasta and bread,

cakes, nutritional items of many sorts.

Furthermore, since oil is used to manufacture multiple other goods,

industrial products and consumer products,

you can imagine being able to make detergents, soaps, lotions, etc.,

using these types of crops.

Not only are we running out of space,

but if we continue to operate under the status quo

with modern agriculture,

we run the risk of robbing our progeny of a beautiful planet.

But it doesn't have to be this way.

We can imagine a future of abundance.

Let us create systems that keep planet Earth, our spaceship,

not only from not crashing,

but let us also develop systems and ways of living

that will be beneficial to the lives of ourselves

and the 10 billion that will be on this planet by 2050.

Thank you very much.

(Applause)