Spring is a season of possibility. In spring, we observe unanticipated developments, and watch vibrant growth transforming our natural settings. It’s the perfect time to embrace the metaphor of expansive transformation and observe what’s rapidly changing our cultural, business and social landscapes today.
Societal transformation occurs once a moonshot innovation can be effectively distributed or scaled — once a majority can benefit from these breakthroughs. Its application solves problems that are impacting society more broadly, problems like climate change, economic instability and disease.
Today we are seeing major breakthroughs in energy, agriculture, health care, and community. These improve how we do business, transform community engagement and lead to a more safe, sustainable and prosperous society.
To kick off the season of idea expansion, our team members shared some examples of the moonshots they see happening and their potential for a positive future.
Energy expansion
Nuclear fusion is a moonshot in the energy industry. It’s a decades long endeavor to source clean, limitless energy. Late last year, U.S. Department of Energy officials announced that US scientists achieved a milestone breakthrough, moving one step closer to the possibility of zero-carbon, abundant fusion energy powering our society.
As that work continues, we are seeing adoption of electronic vehicles scale. The U.S. postal service is increasing its number of electric-powered delivery trucks with the intention of moving to all vehicle purchases to electric in 2026. Public transportation is beginning its shift to electric, and there are now over 42,000 electronic charging stations across the U.S. Time for a spring road trip.
Fields of dreams
Precision agriculture and vertical farming are two moonshots that are striving to do more with less — less inputs, less space, more yield — while tackling the issues of water usage and fertilizer loss which are a major contributors to water pollution and climate change.
AI and machine learning are driving ‘smart farming’ by giving farmers insights on weather patterns, seasonal sunlight, planting and irrigation cycle and the impact of inputs on yield. GPS-based soil monitoring, drones and robots are tracking plant growth and supporting harvesting, processing and marketing in real-time. And facial recognition for farm animals is paving the way for individualized food and veterinary care — a big step beyond ear tags.
Indoor farming is already a $46 billion dollar industry and rising adoption of vertical farming is driving the growth. Using robots to handle planting, harvesting and logistics, it reduces labor needs and is addressing a workforce shortage in the industry. It’s also reducing the need for water, pesticides and fertilizers. This has economic, social and environmental benefits.
Personalized health
It was 20 years ago this month that the Human Genome Project was declared complete. Today, genomics has the potential to deliver the most personalized, preventive care ever imagined. It is now possible to predict, diagnose and treat a person for disease based on an analysis of their entire genomic make up. Supported by AI and machine learning, genomics is shifting health care from the conventional symptom-based approach to one of predictive, precision medicine. The economic and societal benefits seem almost immeasurable.
3D printing is being used in many industries to overwrite our traditional supply chain methodologies. In health care, 3D printing has been used to create replicas of a patient’s anatomy. A scan of a patient’s skull or heart can be ‘printed’ creating picture-perfect anatomical models in clinical settings. This data can also be imported into Augmented Reality tools to allow surgeons to envision how to approach complex procedures based on a person exact physiology.
Even bandages are getting smart. Bandages with temperature sensors can monitor the progression of healing and apply electrical stimulation to accelerate tissue closure and reduce infection. But it’s not all high tech. Color-changing sutures are another invention created by an inventive high schooler who recognized that a lot of people live in countries that will never afford a smart bandage. Her invention uses plant dye which changes color when an infection causes skin pH levels to spike.
These examples demonstrate that innovation can happen anywhere and be led by anyone who is inspired, supported and determined. As technological as so many of these are, there is a real human (or several) bringing it to life.
Community
Community is where it all comes together. Where people move about, use energy, eat food and strive to stay happy and healthy. A community-based moon shot would be measured by economic efficiency, ecological impact and social justice.
Community moonshots in the works include spaces where all people have safe access to water, sanitation and hygiene, where they can consume healthy food with no food waste and where housing insecurity is nonexistent. They include energy producing roads that work like solar panels producing electricity for households, streetlights and the cars that drive upon them. And learning communities where every person, regardless of income, race, age or identity has access to learning experiences customized to their unique capabilities and aspirations. Imagine that!
Today innovators are making a business out of collecting clothing, plastics and other waste to help communities keep waste out of landfills. Activists are bringing young people into nature to connect issues of equity, access and inclusion to environmental justice. Community collaborators are using inventive financing to help non-profits, faith and community groups transition to clean energy. These locally based partnerships are the seeds of innovation that address economic and environmental challenges in a sustainable way.
We all know innovation is hard. That it is risky, takes time and that it can go sideways. Those are dynamics that innovators must be skilled at dealing with. We have serious problems to solve that require the collaboration of stakeholders across communities. Going for the moonshot can catapult us past current norms to transformative ideas and experiences. And there are often related ideas that emerge. One idea begets another. It’s spring. So let’s scatter some seeds of possibility and allow a few unanticipated ideas to pop up and transform us for good.
INTERESTED IN EXPANSIVE INNOVATION? EXPLORE EMERGING MODELS AND COMMUNICATIONS TACTICS THAT CONNECT.