0:00:05 > 0:00:08Hello, there. They say all the best things come in small packages and
0:00:08 > 0:00:10this programme is no exception.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13Think of it as Technobabble concentrate.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15Just a little bit goes a long way.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19Let's power up a ponder on the randomly named messaging app.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Vlogster, will food be grown differently in the future?
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Ooh, tasty question!
0:00:24 > 0:00:28This is a job for someone who knows their spuds from their spinach,
0:00:28 > 0:00:30their beans from their greens.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32Let's hope Frankie's a quick learner.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37I'm sending Frankie to Stockbridge Technology Centre where
0:00:37 > 0:00:40researchers are leading the way in using tech to help horticulture.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43He's going to meet one of their specialist growers.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48Uh, Phil, this isn't quite what I had in mind.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Don't worry, Frankie, you're in the right place.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53But Vlogster told me we were going somewhere where we can show
0:00:53 > 0:00:55how technology boosts the growth of fruit and veg,
0:00:55 > 0:00:56but this field is empty.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Well, we do grow stuff in this field but it's winter
0:00:59 > 0:01:01so it's too cold and there's not enough sunlight.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04But that's where the tech comes in and that's what we're going
0:01:04 > 0:01:05- to show you now.- Right, let's go.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18This is incredible, I feel like I'm in a disco.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20Phil, what do you actually do here?
0:01:20 > 0:01:22Well, it's not a disco. What we have here is
0:01:22 > 0:01:26a multi-tiered LED-lit urban farm for growing crops.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29Oh, amazing. And...don't you need sunshine to grow crops, though?
0:01:29 > 0:01:32No, we don't. We're using the LED lights and we're providing all the
0:01:32 > 0:01:34light they need for growth.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36So, hang on, if you don't need sunshine does that mean you
0:01:36 > 0:01:38can set these things up anywhere?
0:01:38 > 0:01:40It means you can grow plants in places that we can't
0:01:40 > 0:01:42traditionally do that.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45So, underground or in the basement of a building -
0:01:45 > 0:01:48space that's essentially going to waste and now we can fill it
0:01:48 > 0:01:51with plants and grow really good quality crops.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54And that means we can produce fresh food in the winter when
0:01:54 > 0:01:57a lot of food is imported in the UK.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59Can you tell me a bit more about the LEDs?
0:01:59 > 0:02:01Yes, so these are fairly standard LEDs but we have different
0:02:01 > 0:02:05colours and then we control how much of each colour we want.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08But they're very energy efficient and they're cool to touch.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11That means you can get the lights really close to the plants without
0:02:11 > 0:02:14damaging them and then you can fit as many shelves in as possible.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17What else can you change by altering the different lights?
0:02:17 > 0:02:21Well, we can change flowering, so, we can tell a plant when to flower.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24We can change the flavour of something like basil.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28And, hopefully, we can change the health benefits of those plants.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30So, changing things like Vitamin C concentrations.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34And I understand this is actually one of the biggest research centres
0:02:34 > 0:02:36of its kind in the world.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39Yes, this is really cutting-edge stuff and we're very proud to
0:02:39 > 0:02:42- have it here in Yorkshire. - And it's amazing to be here,
0:02:42 > 0:02:44but I want to get my hands dirty, I want to get stuck in.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46Is there anything I can help you with?
0:02:46 > 0:02:49Yes, we've got lots of dirty jobs to get you stuck in and to
0:02:49 > 0:02:50see how we do things.
0:02:50 > 0:02:51- Fantastic, let's do it.- Brilliant.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Right, Phil, what are we doing now?
0:02:57 > 0:03:01- So we're going to pot up these petunia plants.- OK.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05So, grab the pot, push up from beneath and grab the ball of soil.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08We're going to put them into a slightly bigger pot
0:03:08 > 0:03:10so they've got more space to grow.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14So you've obviously got some amazing technology that you're using here.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16Is there anything else that you're working on?
0:03:16 > 0:03:18So, elsewhere on site we have some satellite farming projects
0:03:18 > 0:03:23where we're using satellites to guide tractors round
0:03:23 > 0:03:27fields and feed the plants differently at different parts of
0:03:27 > 0:03:29the field, to maximise efficiency.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33And where do you think things are going to go in the future?
0:03:33 > 0:03:34Well, the sky's the limit.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38So, we've got this technology here that we can grow without sunlight.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44And really this place is, you know, we've seen Mars now has water on.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46So, potentially we could grow plants
0:03:46 > 0:03:48on Mars or anywhere in space, really.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50So, who knows,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53in 20 years' time we could have something like this on Mars.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Absolutely.
0:03:56 > 0:03:57I don't know about you, Vlogster,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00but I found that pretty illuminating.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02I do the gags, Francis.
0:04:02 > 0:04:03Now, forget growing crops on solid ground,
0:04:03 > 0:04:06the oceans are where it's at for future farming.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09What, you mean underwater food, like seaweed?
0:04:09 > 0:04:12No, we're talking lettuce, basil, strawberries and garlic.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Italian scientists have been growing
0:04:14 > 0:04:16underwater in transparent biospheres.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18The constant warm temperature and high humidity mean that
0:04:18 > 0:04:22sea greenhouses give perfect growing conditions.
0:04:22 > 0:04:23What next?
0:04:23 > 0:04:26Fancy some wasabi flavoured chocolate mousse for pudding?
0:04:26 > 0:04:27Not really.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30Me neither, but you could with this fancy fork.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33It releases aromas while you eat, combining the senses of
0:04:33 > 0:04:36taste and smell to create unique food pairings.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39The aromas include coffee, peanut and smoke.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43To be honest, all my cooking comes with a hint of burnt.
0:04:43 > 0:04:44Remind me never to come to yours for lunch.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48How about the world's first lab-grown meat restaurant?
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Researchers in the Netherlands think that in vitro meat,
0:04:51 > 0:04:53created using animal cells in a bioreactor,
0:04:53 > 0:04:57could be a sustainable food source in the future.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59To get people used to the idea, they've cooked up an online
0:04:59 > 0:05:03experience, with a menu of unusual dishes and
0:05:03 > 0:05:05a restaurant of virtual tables.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Vlogster, all this talk of food is making my stomach rumble.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Fancy a takeaway?
0:05:09 > 0:05:13Thanks for the offer, Frankie, but I've already had a byte to eat.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17Ha, get it? Byte, computer, food? Oh, never mind.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21Now here's someone who's definitely hungry for answers.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Will we ever live with dinosaurs?
0:05:24 > 0:05:26Ooh, that's a roarsome question, Star.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30Right, let's find out if the most fearsome creatures on earth
0:05:30 > 0:05:34could make like Take That and be # Back for good. #
0:05:34 > 0:05:37By studying loads of fossils, scientists have discovered
0:05:37 > 0:05:41that birds are direct descendants of flesh-eating flying dinosaurs.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44And it doesn't stop with our feathered friends.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48Tortoises, Komodo Dragons and alligators are all ancient animals.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52The Carnufex carolinensis, a crocodile like creature,
0:05:52 > 0:05:57walked on two legs, had huge jaws and grew three metres tall.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02That was 230 million years ago, but don't be disappointed just yet,
0:06:02 > 0:06:03Jurassic fans.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07DNA is in every single cell in your body and it carries all the
0:06:07 > 0:06:11information needed to make you, or a dinosaur,
0:06:11 > 0:06:15from the colour of your eyes to your favourite flavour of crisp.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19One problem - DNA doesn't survive more than a few million years.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23And dinosaurs became extinct 65 million years ago.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26But researchers in America have found blood-like cells in
0:06:26 > 0:06:29even older fossilised bones and claws,
0:06:29 > 0:06:33and these cells can give hints to the building blocks of dino-skin.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36So, there's still hope for dinosaur DNA.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40American palaeontologists, that's dino experts,
0:06:40 > 0:06:43also think that one day we could have pet dinosaurs.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47Because birds are related to flying dinosaurs, scientists reckon we can
0:06:47 > 0:06:51turn off the newer genes that make them birds, like beaks and feathers,
0:06:51 > 0:06:56and switch on older genes like teeth and scales to create dinosaurs.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58This bonkers biology is called...
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Using transgenics, scientists have already taken the genes from
0:07:02 > 0:07:07jellyfish and used them to make glow in the dark rabbits.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10This could mean a lot for the world of medicine but, for dino fans,
0:07:10 > 0:07:14forging a friendly flying pterodactyl might take a while yet.
0:07:15 > 0:07:16And talking of dinosaurs,
0:07:16 > 0:07:20what do you call a dinosaur that likes hot drinks?
0:07:20 > 0:07:25A tea-rex. Yep, I know, I'm funny. Time to stick the kettle on.
0:07:25 > 0:07:26Bye!