Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Nick Starling

Mr. Nick Starling is the founding executive of Skyscraper Farm LLC. Mr. Starling has over 10 years C-level experience in international development, advocacy, and national defense. A veteran of the U.S. Army Rangers and recognized as the Lead Team Leader into Baghdad during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Mr. Starling served with distinction and dedicated his post-service career to helping returning veterans flourish. Mr. Starling studied Economics at Harvard University with a particular focus on Economics and International Development. He is the world’s leading Vertical Farming Economist as confirmed at the 2018 American Economics Association (AEA) Conference in Philadelphia. It was confirmed again at the 2018 Agriculture and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) Conference in D.C. and at the 2018 World Food Prize in Des Moines. Mr. Starling’s work in agriculture dates back to his childhood when he would help one of his grandfathers harvest oranges every winter in Central Florida. His other grandfather was a butcher in Virginia where Mr. Starling grew up. Both grandfathers taught him the value of the nation's food supply chain and both served in World War II.

He is currently in the process of writing his Ph.D. dissertation on the Positive Supply Shock Effects of Controlled Environment Agriculture. He has spoken at the USDA, Harvard, Hawaii Pacific University, the World Food Prize, and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) about vertical farming and guest lectured at West Point about Leadership and Discipline, as well as at Harvard on the links between human trafficking and corruption.