Eat This philosopher in residence on the future of food

Clemens Driessen shares his observations

One way to bring creatives and dissenters into contact with horticulture and to let their ideas be a new source of inspiration is EatThis Invitations. Within this concept, EatThis invites, informs and connects leading media, influencers, celebrities, creative thinkers and politicians and show them horticulture as a leading innovator in the food domain.
In 2021, Clemens Driessen of Wageningen University became ‘philosopher in residence’ in horticulture. At the end of the year, he shared his observations and conclusions:

High-tech or agroecology?

During his research, Clemens was touched by the involvement of large groups of people in society, who are concerned with the production of sufficient, sustainable and healthy food. What particularly fascinates him is the dichotomy he sees here. There are two world views, which seem to be far apart.

On the one hand, he sees the group that believes in technology (high tech, vertical farming); on the other side are those who seek the solutions to the food challenges in agroecology and permaculture. Both environments are characterized by a strong sense of belonging, but despite the fact that they basically want to achieve the same thing, there is hardly any contact between the two.

Clemens is convinced that combining both worlds can lead to new ideas, inspiration and stories. For horticulture itself, but especially also for making the necessary connectivity with society. New concepts can include the combination of high tech and permaculture or setting up an indoor food forest. In the coming period Clemens, in collaboration with EatThis, will be looking for opportunities to realize these plans.

New artist in residence for 2022

During the Unconference, our new ‘Artist in Residence’ was introduced: Kadir van Lohuizen. Kadir is a world-famous photographer and is currently working on visualizing the food system. Initially he wanted to opt for a global approach, but after a closer acquaintance with the way in which this is implemented in the Netherlands, he has shifted his focus.
The question that drives him is how a relatively small country like the Netherlands can fulfil such a major, prominent global role in the international food domain. His findings should result in one or more exhibits. 

Follow Kadir´s journey in our news items and on his Instagram account.