Paths to Progress Experiments Update: Driving Urban Food Innovation Forward  ○ S+T+ARTS Hungry EcoCities

Over the past three years, Hungry EcoCities has made significant strides in exploring innovative pathways to transform the urban food system into one that is more equitable and sustainable. The past six months, in particular, have been especially fruitful, with members of our network engaging in hands-on experiments and knowledge exchanges across a variety of contexts. Here are some highlights:

Path to Progress Experiments

The ten experiments from our second residency are now in the final stages of the prototyping process. These range from AI-powered research to reduce waste in ecological straw production to an alert mechanism aimed at mitigating the impact of pests and diseases on honeybee populations. Thanks to the productive collaboration between the selected artists and SMEs, alongside mentoring design studios and universities, we’re seeing tangible, real-world outcomes take shape.

GreenTECH

As one of the world’s largest forums for horticulture technology, the Amsterdam-based GreenTECH event was a key milestone for Hungry EcoCities in 2025. Our presence included talks by Carlo Ratti Associati and In4Art, and a workshop showcasing The Council of Foods—an experiment developed by Nonhuman Nonsense during the first phase of our programme.

Future Solutions Talks

In July, we hosted an online forum to reconnect with leading voices in urban design, agriculture, and related fields—many of whom have been part of our journey since Hungry EcoCities began in 2022. Much has changed in the world since then, and so has their work. This platform enabled our guests to share insights on the actions needed across food research, production, and distribution to ensure the urban food system adapts and thrives in the face of evolving challenges.

Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for more updates on our work!

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