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[TK3600]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_farming

We have this technology today that produce food without using soil at much higher rate per space. Granted, power consumption is an issue, but I am sure if Domain can do space travel, they have that one solved. So why is Domain still using soil nanite? Why is soil quality still an issue for food production output? Why planet needs to be habitable to produce food?

[Nettle]

Probably economics. Nothing beats dumping a bunch of seeds and water over an enormous area then watch it turn into nutrients over 3 months time. If you had a solution that could just turn any soil into ultra-fertile soil hydroponics wouldn't be able to compete, especially when it comes to crops that don't spoil fast and are grown in huge bulk.

[Princess of Evil]

It's much easier to produce food on a planetary scale when you aren't using up a planet's worth of metal to make hydroponic trays? Not to mention having to make massive airtight spaces with glass roofs, or worse, fusion-powered lamps, because your atmosphere is nonexistent and your sun is so far it looks like just another star? And importing all the atmosphere from somewhere? When habitable planets were already made for you by automated drones centuries ago?

[TK3600]

It's much easier to produce food on a planetary scale when you aren't using up a planet's worth of metal to make hydroponic trays? Not to mention having to make massive airtight spaces with glass roofs, or worse, fusion-powered lamps, because your atmosphere is nonexistent and your sun is so far it looks like just another star? And importing all the atmosphere from somewhere? When habitable planets were already made for you by automated drones centuries ago?

Planetary scale, come on, you mean for like ten thousand people, which is a common size 4 world? The population is incredibly low, each planet has population roughly size of a city IRL. Kazeron has roughly population of New York City + neighborhoods, and is one of the most populated planet. Only Chico is an exception that has population comparable to USA. Pretty much all planet should be self sufficient with food using IRL farming techs, not to mention their scifi techs.

[Zumberge]

The sticking point is that it simply doesn't show up at all, despite being a potential solution when it comes to space stations, at the very least.

It could be that the technology was suppressed by the Domain of Man since it meant that planets could be self-sufficient and thus potentially be in a position to eschew reliance on them and/or rebel, but how anyone suppresses something theory-crafted and proven in the 17th century is beyond me.  Maybe it's in the "inexplicably lost technology" pile, buried beneath Battletech's CIWS systems and bags of gunpowder from every high fantasy setting which has alchemy.

[TK3600]

So perhaps Domain suppress certain tech that would aid self sufficiency. Yes it is very plausible. However this is a very simple technology, fundamentally just a green house with pipes. I am not sure how it could be suppressed.

[Princess of Evil]

Planetary scale, come on, you mean for like ten thousand people, which is a common size 4 world?

Size 4, which is the smallest possible planet size, with widespread drones, AI and higher technologies?

[SCC]

Pretty much all planet should be self sufficient with food using IRL farming techs, not to mention their scifi techs.

They could be, if they really wanted. But it isn't worth their money or their time. Especially since the market is so small.

[TK3600]

Pretty much all planet should be self sufficient with food using IRL farming techs, not to mention their scifi techs.

They could be, if they really wanted. But it isn't worth their money or their time. Especially since the market is so small.

Market frequently get disrupted. The stability drop from food shortages all the time, people always starve, that should be a good motivation for some minor investment.

[happycrow]

The Domain was a Hydraulic Empire whose inhabitants appear to have rebelled at any and every opportunity (think about the rogue miners at Derinkyuu Station -- they may be "the baddies" from the perspective of John Starsector's Tutorial, but it's very easy to identify with their plight). Economic efficiency was intentionally undercut at every stage in order to maximize dependence upon central authority.

There are a lot of things that are flat-out inhuman(e) about Domain culture, and David does a great job painting this picture for us. Two quickie examples before I splat:
a) Oh, this granny's pod didn't make it. Okay, snag her kidneys so we can sell them later.
b) A population without spaceflight and supporting tech which is dependent on its ecosystem is a contemptuous animal not fit to bear the title "human."

[John the Gamer]

Planetary scale, come on, you mean for like ten thousand people, which is a common size 4 world?

Size 4, which is the smallest possible planet size, with widespread drones, AI and higher technologies?

Excuse me, sir, but there is a Hegemony inspector here to speak with you about this supposed "AI" usage on your colony, which would be a clear transgression of established Domain-era restrictions on AI development.
Please prepare to surrender your population to oblivion. Thank you for your cooperation.

[Princess of Evil]

Only gamma+ AI is restricted. It's not exactly the lowest class.