New Lundus is a dead land, its skies blackened by clouds of toxic dust, its soil poisoned by ash. It would seem that eeking out a living is nearly impossible, given the serious degradation in environmental resources. And yet, life finds a way to persist, the surviving humans having figured out ways to sustain their numbers with the limited resources they still have left at their disposal.

Air Filtration

Possibly the most valuable resource in New Lundus, clean air is hard to come by these days. Many of the pre calamity air filters were cheaply and improperly constructed, causing the deaths of millions. Nowadays, all air filters, whether personal or industrial level, are subject to strict quality controls and are always in high demand.

Topside Farming

Much of New Lundus is blanketed in dust and ash leftover from when the meteor hit Aetherea, poisoning both the air and the soil of the peninsula. Most crops quickly died out, leading to mass starvation for surviving humans. Yet, as time went on, some breeds of crops took to the soil, actually thriving in it to the point that these crops can no longer be grown in pre calamity soils. Thus, small-scale farming is possible topside, although it remains a risky proposition.

Hydroponics

That being said, most of New Lundus's crops were unable to take to the soil, it being far too polluted to sustain their growth. Thus, New Lundus had to look for alternative solutions. Bypassing the soil issue entirely, New Lundians began growing their plants via hydroponics instead of traditional farming. By directly submerging the plant's root systems in a liquid solution, farmers can grow their crops without needing soil. Hydroponics utilize far less water consumption and space than traditional farming does, although such systems require constant monitoring to ensure they work as intended.

Large Scale Hydroponics

The New Lundus government sets out strict regulations regarding hydroponics, as such an enterprise is seen as vital to the survival of the New Lundus state. They are heavily guarded by the New Lundus Defense Forces and tampering or stealing from one incurs heavy penalities, namely exile into the wastes or immediate execution, depending on how generous the Peacekeepers are feeling that day.

A-Frame setup.

Aquaponics

Taking hydroponics one step further, aquaponics introduces live creatures such as fish into the equation. The fish create waste that contains helpful bacteria, waste that is then fed to the plants to help boost their growth. Tilapia are among the most popular fish for this purpose, as they are quite hardy and can survive a number of different conditions, provided a warm temperature is maintained. They also grow fairly rapidly and are widely farmed and consumed in New Lundus, since traditional livestock cannot survive on the surface.

Tilapa Tank.

Aquaculture

The animal-based component of aquaponics, fish hatcheries have been constructed to help feed New Lundus. During the early years of the great calamity, traditional fishing was nearly impossible due to how badly polluted the waters around Aetherea became. Yet, much like with the crops of old, a few fish breeds managed to survive and thrive, while others died out at alarming rates. Fish farms like the one above, using filtered sea water or extracted groundwater, can support the development of fish that can no longer survive in the oceans and lakes of Aetherea, although some species can only live in the now polluted waters.

Insects as a Food Source

While considered rather unappealing, the great calamity has forced many New Lundians to reconsider what constitutes a valid food source. Insects are rich in protein and are absurdly plentiful, adapting to the environment like no other species of animals. In just 15 years, they've gone from being completely ignored to widely consumed, with some species even being considered delicacies among those who miss the taste of meat.

Hardtack

One of the most important, and hated, foodstuffs in New Lundus, hardtack is a combination of water, flour, and salt. When baked properly, hardtack is nearly indestructible and able to be stored for years at a time. Rumor has it that hardtack is capable of stopping bullets, although such reports remain unverified. To make hardtack edible, one simply needs to add liquid onto it. Its bland, unappealing texture and flavor makes it an item of necessity, not of luxury.

Biofuel

One of the biggest downsides to aquaponics, besides being able to filter contaminated water or draw out clean water from under the ground, is the constant need for electricity. In a twisted bit of irony, there is now far less of a demand for power, with fossil fuel reserves being able to last far longer due to the drastic decrease in population. That being said, New Lundus is investing in biofuels to have an alternative source of energy on hand, utilizing plant, animal and human waste material as a power source, along with other forms of renewable energy to power their lifesaving air filtration and hydroponic systems.

Here, algae are being grown as a potential source of biofuel, as it grows quickly and is rather resilient to most outside issues.