HUNGRY ECOCITIES
Hungry EcoCities aims at exploring one of the most pressing challenges of our times: the need for a more healthy, sustainable, responsible, and affordable agri-food system for all.
THE PROJECT
Hungry EcoCities puts forward a high-level alliance between science, technology, and the arts, to effectively explore how digital technologies & AI applications can lead in turn to reduced food waste, more sustainable value chains, eco-friendly attitudes, and more ethical food consumption. How can we develop ways of creating a more healthy, sustainable, and affordable agri-food system for all?
In Hungry EcoCities, studios, universities, growers, and agricultural specialists team up with, artists and creative thinkers to come up with new ideas for the future food system. Hungry EcoCities will host up to 20 S+T+ARTS residencies and will be working towards defining, designing, and developing AI-enabled responsible, art-driven solutions for the end-users in the agri-food industries.
We work around the igniting question: ‘How can increased awareness and technological tools impact a future where we use resources responsibly to produce and consume food?’
DURATION: September 2022 – February 2026
3 DIRECTIONS FOR EXPERIMENTATION
Hungry EcoCities focusses it’s approach around three directions for experimentation through conducting Humanizing Technology Experiments (2023-2024) and Paths to Progress experiments (2024-2025):
MEGA SCALE
EatThis Knowledge Hub Netherlands: led by EatThis, Stephan Petermann and Rem Koolhaas.
LOCAL CONDITIONS
Studio Other Spaces Knowlege Hub Germany: led by Studio Other Spaces, founded by Sebastian Behmann and Olafur Eliasson.
CITY+FARMING SYNERGIES
Carlo Ratti Associati Knowledge Hub Italy: led by Carlo Ratti Associati partners Monika Löve and Daniele Belleri.
THE RESIDENCIES
Hungry EcoCities residencies are collaborative projects and are conducted in close collaboration with AI and digital tech researchers at KU Leuven institute Leuven.AI, the Brno University of Technology, AgriTech researchers at Mendel University in Brno, Art and Design studios Studio Other Spaces and CRA – Carlo Ratti Associati, Institute for art-driven innovation In4Art, Controlled Environment Agriculture network organisation EatThis and funding specialists FundingBox.
HUMANIZING TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENTS
The first Open Call selected 10 artists, interested in exploring digital questions utilizing a mix of technology and art, and will work on artistic agri-food AI usability explorations. They participated from September 2023 until summer 2024 in our Humanizing Technology Experiments.
PATHS TO PROGRESS EXPERIMENTS
Phase 1 of the second Open Call selected 10 SMEs from the agri-food sector. These innovative companies are leading the development of AI-enabled use case prototypes and awareness-raising artworks. In the next stages of the Open Call, they will collaborate with artists to form teams that will tackle the challenges identified by the SMEs throughout the support program.
Open Call 2 – Phase 2 for ARTISTS
Closed on September 20th, 2024
The winners will be announced in March 2025.
NEWS & ARTICLES
● The role of Scale in Food Production: Hungry EcoCities at the Embassy of Food’s Table Conversations during Dutch Design Week
November 11, 2024
● Your Second Chance to Shape the Future of Food (EXTENDED Open Call)
October 30, 2024
● Paths to Progress Experiments: Introducing the 10 SMEs – Winners of Hungry EcoCities’ 2nd Open Call
September 23, 2024
● Introducing HEClab: Bridging Art-Driven Innovation with Sustainable Food Systems
August 26, 2024
●Humanizing Technology Experiments Outcomes
July 22, 2024
● Seeds of Change: Demonstration Events Pioneering Agri-Food Solutions
July 18, 2024
OPEN CALLS
Paths to Progress Experiments to have AI-enabled use scenario prototypes tested in real environments.
The second open call will select up to 10 industrial end-user/SMEs from the agri-food sector and up to 10 artists that jointly will work on AI enabled use scenario prototypes and awareness-raising artworks that (1) make the food chain more transparent, inclusive, and sustainable, (2) build connections between different stakeholders in the food chain and, (3) promote more informed and sustainable consumption patterns.
PHASE 2
Open Call for ARTISTS
–> Closed on September 20th, 2024
PHASE 1
Call for SMEs in the agri-food sector
–> Closed on May 15, 2024
CONTACT
MANAGEMENT
Pavel Smrž
smrz[@]fit.vutbr.cz
RESIDENCIES
Rodolfo Groenewoud van Vliet
rodolfo [@] in4art.eu
CONSORTIUM
Brno University of Technology (coord., CZ)
KU Leuven (BE)
Carlo Ratti Associati (IT)
Studio Other Spaces (GE)
In4Art (NL)
Mendel University (CZ)
NethWork (NL)
FundingBox (PL)
The HungryEcoCities project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement 101069990.