Repulsorfarm

Repulsorfarms were a technological innovation of the Golden Empire, pioneered on Iomis but later applied to other worlds in the Empire's domain as well. Essentially enormous hoversleds, they employed repulsorlift technology to create basins square kilometers in size. The basins were usually a meter or two deep, and filled with soil. Using irrigation channels, water was brought to the soil, and the repulsorfarms were used to grow crops in areas with unarable land.

Repulsorfarms were designed to use a variety of fuel sources instead of energy packs, which would have made them cost more than they were worth. The norm was to use solar energy, as it was an abundant and perpetually available resource, though when the idea was exported to Abstalia, the native Abstalians were able to use lava in conjunction with sunlight.

Repulsorfarming was usually a temporary measure, brought onto worlds before they could be terraformed or establish trade for foodstuffs with other members of the Golden Empire. The introduction of repulsorfarms was both a strong public relations move for the Empire in winning over the hearts of new citizens and a way to increase the population of a species which had normally been confined to smaller numbers due to lack of food supplies.