n.
A high-rise building used for growing crops. [Blend of farm and skyscraper.]
Example Citations:
More radical still is an idea that has environmentally minded architects worldwide in a tizz. "Farmscrapers" may become the solution to a bulging population versus diminishing land. Clever hydro- and aeroponic systems mean very little water will be required to grow crops high up in the sky, saving valuable space and resources.
—Kate Burt, " Tomorrow's world: The gizmos about to change the way we live: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/tomorrows-world-the-gizmos-about-to-change-the-way-we-live-1807363.html," The Independent, October 25, 2009
Other growth areas include vertical farming, in which lack of space means crops are cultivated in urban high-rises or 'farmscrapers'.
—Fiona MacCrae, ' Aim for the stars and train to be a space architect: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1242990/Aim-stars-train-space-architect.html," Daily mail, January 14, 2010
Earliest Citation:
Dr. Dickson Despommier, a professor of environmental sciences and microbiology at Columbia University, believes that "vertical farm" skyscrapers could help feed cities, and fight global warming....And the price tag? Roughly $200 million per farm for startup costs, and the idea is for each 'farmscraper' to be self-sustainable.
—Pablo Defendini, " Urban Farming. It's the wave of the future...: http://defendini.blogspot.com/2007/04/urban-farming-its-wave-of-future.html," The New Sleekness, April 4, 2007
Notes:
Farmscrapers are also called vertical farms and skyfarms. There's a chance this word is much older than the earliest citation suggests. If you search for "farmscraper" on Google Books, you get this tidbit in the results:
"Farm-Scraper" Our future farmers will have ... 'farm-scrapers' instead of sky-scrapers in the middle of population centers.
—Weekly Digest Vols 72-73, "American Institute of Food Distribution, 1966
However, when you search the book itself for the term "farm-scraper" (or "farm-scrapers"), the snippet that appears doesn't show the above text (maddening!).
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New words. 2013.