This talk by Aryan Sharma explores how rapid urban growth is paving over farmland, displacing farmers, and threatening the very food systems we depend on. Through personal stories and eye-opening data, Aryan Sharma reveals what’s at stake—and highlights innovative solutions like agrihoods and AI-powered farming that prove cities and farms can grow together. It’s a call to rethink development, protect our farmers, and safeguard the soil that sustains us all. Aryan Sharma is a 14-year-old 9th grader at Round Rock High School. For years, he visited a local farm stand with his grandpa, until it was suddenly removed due to urban development. That moment sparked his passion to speak up about the struggles farmers face as cities expand. His message resonated, earning him 1st place in major public speaking contests across Texas, including the Houston Rodeo Fair for Public Speaking, one of the biggest public speaking competitions in the nation. Aryan uses his voice to defend rural communities and honor agricultural heritage. In his free time, he enjoys building engineering project and coding. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx