These Artists Serve Up Environmental Crises Through Food
Sep 24, 2024
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Zack Denfeld, co-founder of the Center for Genomic Gastronomy, discusses the intersection of food and environmental art. He shares innovative projects like smog-infused cookies that turn pollution into culinary experiences, transforming air quality data into surprising flavors. Denfeld explores how unique ingredients, such as Cobalt 60 sauce, challenge perceptions of risk in modern agriculture. The conversation encourages listeners to rethink sustainability in food and inspires culinary curiosity with local, biodiverse ingredients.
Artists creatively use food to highlight environmental crises, provoking deeper awareness and understanding of food and its ecological impacts.
The integration of traditional farming practices with modern technology promotes sustainable food systems while preserving the cultural significance of cuisine.
Deep dives
Innovative Ingredients and Environmental Awareness
Artists at the Center for Genomic Gastronomy are creating unique food items that reflect environmental issues, such as cookies made with air pollution and sourdough from wheat affected by wildfires. Their mission is to evoke awareness and understanding of climate crises through sensory experiences. By engaging with unconventional ingredients, they encourage consumers to confront the realities of their food sources and the ecosystems they stem from. This approach fosters a deeper connection between food choices and environmental impacts, prompting critical discussions about sustainable practices.
The Science Behind Smog Cookies
The project of making smog-infused cookies began in Bangalore, India, where the team wanted to capture the taste of pollution to inspire behavioral change. By whisking egg whites in highly polluted areas, they analyzed various types of smog through its distinct smells and flavors, discovering that people were eager to taste and understand the implications of the air they breathe. Various cities presented unique flavor profiles based on their pollution chemistry, with surprising results like Bergen, Norway, showcasing bad air quality despite its reputation for clean air. This sensory experimentation encourages individuals to question their everyday experiences of pollution and its health effects.
Combining Tradition and Technology in Food Production
Research into food forests and agroforestry is being integrated with alternative proteins, exploring diversified agricultural systems that promote ecological health. This initiative highlights the potential of combining traditional farming with modern food technologies using AI to uncover diverse and nutritious recipes. The goal is to reduce reliance on animal products while still encouraging culinary creativity and preference for plant-based foods. The approach emphasizes the importance of not losing sight of the joy and cultural significance behind food amidst the scientific reasoning of food production.
Would you be interested in a cookie infused with smog from your favorite city? Maybe a loaf of sourdough made from wheat tainted by wildfires?
Those are just a few of the projects from the Center for Genomic Gastronomy, based in Amsterdam and Portugal, where artists use innovative ingredients to represent environmental crises and imagine what the future of food could look like.
Ira talks with Zack Denfeld, co-founder of the Center for Genomic Gastronomy, about how art and food can help us envision a more sustainable food system.