MyComadre
A speculative exploration of possible solutions for the climate crisis; it promotes a vision of synergy between technology and nature that empowers interspecies communities and ecosystems.
Scenario
By 2050, due to climate change, 50% of coffee plantations will become unsuitable. Most of them belong to smallholder farmers.
Brief
How might farmers in the tropical belt be more resilient to unpredictable conditions and continue profit from their land?
Systemic Solution
Mycomadre decodes underground messages from non-human species, offering actionable insights to help farmers adapt their agricultural practices and foster mutualistic relationships with their crops. It supports communities through agricultural transitions during uncertain times, empowering them to make informed, collective decisions for a sustainable future.
Simplified Storyboard
The community leader endorses MyComadre on behalf of the local group of farmers. After receiving the training, they gather participants and organize the transition to sustainable precision farming.
The Design Process
from analysis
This project starts with an analysis of Nespresso with a systemic perspective. We mapped their activities and relations using , and
Then we evaluated their sustainable impact with an . We discovered issues of “fair-washing”: coffee farmers are dependent rather than empowered.
To spark the ideation phase we explored a counterfactual: “what if coffee was illegal?”. We then discovered that by 2050 many countries will in fact not be able to produce coffee, not because of regulations but due to .
to synthesis
From putting the communities of smallholder farmers at the center, with the we shifted our focus towards a more-than-human perspective, encouraging a mutualistic relationship between the farmers and their crops.
Developing the we uncovered the opportunity of leveraging community leaders as key human touchpoint to connect sustaible efforts at an international scale with the everyday practice of the farmers. Finally we developed our solution with the aid of , and storyboard that allowed us to gain clarity, and iterate our narrative.
Speculative Technology
Mycosensors read the electrical signals traveling through the underground mycorrhizal network. Powered by solar energy, these sensors read, store and transmit data to mediate the dialogue between crops and farmers. Ispired by the work of Andrew Adamatzky.
Service Touchpoint: the app
The app supports farmers in monitoring and decisionmaking, connects communities and help them access international funding for their local projects.
WHAT I DID - strenghts
After the initial research, my main contributions were: guiding the ideation phase by proposing the counterfactual and suggesting to explore mychorrizal networks as a potential source for future technological development, inspired by solarpunk. I led most of the tech solution and designed the form and function of the MycoSensor, backed by research.
WHAT I’VE LEARNED - progress
As this was my first service project in my master journey, I’ve learned to apply the main service design and systemic tools and maps. From my intercultural team I’ve learned to embrace a more global perspective, and put social justice at the forefront. I’ve also had the chance to practice knowledge sharing, a fundamental skill in teamwork that I’m focused on developing
WHAT I WOULD IMPROVE - reflections
Validation is missing, even though it’s a speculative design project I would seek experts’ opinion and involve coffee farmers to understand whether this solution is aligned with the future they desire. There is also ample potential to develop the narrative in terms of communication. I’ve learned this is essential and powerful when dealing with the future.
To see more details of the project access the booklet (available in english only)