What have we done so far?

We started the project by formulating the research question: 

Is it possible to design a sustainable and climate-adaptive food production system that is scalable and adaptable to local conditions and needs anywhere in the world, together with stakeholders?

Next, we have divided this question into three sub-questions, namely

1.        What can a sustainable and climate-adaptive food production system look like? 

2.       Can the system be designed so that it can be applied in different contexts?

3.       Is it possible to design it together with stakeholders so that the solution gains broad support and contributes to depolarization?

To answer the first two sub-questions, we started by doing a literature study. We concluded that answering our research question requires a paradigm shift: we need to look at issues in a completely different way. For example, instead of seeing rising sea levels and land salinization due to climate change as a threat, we make food production floating and use the potential of open water to produce water and energy. And we fight natural resource depletion not by optimizing current specialized business processes, but integrate different agricultural sectors to introduce circularity in our food system. By working in short, local chains, we provide food security, fair income and inclusive development. With sustainability, circularity, climate adaptation, cross-sector collaboration and an animal dignified existence as prerequisites, we have created an initial modular design with livestock farming, insect farming, aquaculture and vertical horticulture.

To test, deepen and enrich our design, we organized three design dialogue sessions (also called focus groups) with stakeholders. These stakeholders represented science, agribusiness and citizens. Together they devised solutions to tensions that may arise between and within the various aspects of sustainability. They also thought together about how to create as much value as possible by looking for synergies. 

By constantly adapting the design accordingly, a final design emerged that could count on the enthusiasm of all participants. Moreover, because we chose to work with building blocks (modules), it became a reproducible and scalable design that could be adapted relatively easily.

The design is not only flexible due to its modular structure, but the look-and-feel is also flexible. We have translated the design as it emerged during the design sessions with stakeholders into our own look-and-feel. This design consists of the same modules as the design of the design sessions but has a different visual presentation.

The design of a floating food (production) system as we developed in our project is a concrete example of how we can produce food in a sustainable and climate-adaptive way, now and in the future. The modular nature of the design also ensures that it is scalable, reproducible and adaptable, making it applicable worldwide - in different contexts. Involving stakeholders in the design process proved to be of added value: Issues were looked at from different angles and from these different angles solutions could be sought with support.  Reflexive interactive design with stakeholders thus contributes to the depolarisation of the debate on food production in the Netherlands.

In addition to answering the research question, we presented the design at VIV MEA/Horti Agri Next, an international exhibition with accompanying conference in Abu Dhabi (November 2023).

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