Greenie
UTS Visual Communications Honours 2020
Tutors: Aaron Seymour, Zoe Sadokierski, Jacquie Lorber-Kasunic, Jacqueline Gothe
Acknowledgements: Katherine Scardifield, Diana Vu, Julie Nguyen, Jake Mu, Aaron Davis, Aiden Barry
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Project︎
Research︎
Enter Greenie Site >
Creating discussions through design fiction.
Genetically Modified (GM) food is a controversial topic. Some are concerned that manipulating DNA is ‘unnatural’ and humans interfering with 'nature' is unethical. However, the political concern is global biotech companies patenting the genetic makeup of food empowering them with the legal rights to control the use and distribution of GM seeds. Purchasing seeds annually becomes expensive for farmers because GM companies make it illegal to save seeds. If cross-contamination occurs, farmers could be sued—even if bird seed dispersal is the cause. In terms of our ecosystem, GM foods have led to superweeds and superbugs which have resulted in stronger use of pesticides. Targeted GM technology has resulted in the loss of biodiversity.
GM foods must go.
Or must they?
Food scientists are tackling the question of how we feed 10 billion people sustainably by 2050 🤷♂️. We would need to produce 56% more food but at the same time reduce emissions by 67% and not use up any more space; half of the worlds' vegetated land is already used for agriculture. In this climate crisis, GM technology has the potential to help solve these issues with foods that are disease resistant, climate adaptive, have a longer shelf life and higher nutrients. They could also help solve issues like food waste in Australia and Vitamin A deficiency in the Philippines.
Greenie is a fictional agricultural biotech corporation that aims to unpack the complexities of the GM food debate in a playful but provocative way.
The poster series explores the tension between the sinister and the necessary. It prompts us to question the tensions around nature and technology, our convenience culture and corporate monopolisation. We must question the role of GM foods because they have the potential to create alternative futures—whether desirable or not. The Greenie project is designed to ignite these discussions within the food marketing industry and our broader consumer culture. Ask yourself what you want your food future to look like.
I invite you to observe, explore and engage in the world of Greenie.
Greenier Meat Variety
These posters are a critique of the meat industry. At first, they seem horrific and disturbing, but this is no joke. Greenie proposes we need to get over our fear of the lab and lab-grown meat. In the long run, this will lower emissions and save resources. Greenie meat can also be higher in nutrients without harming any animals 💪. The results are the same—we get to eat the meat.
How ethical is this human-centric approach to meat consumption?
Superfruit Variety
These fruits are more nutritious, tastier, have a longer shelf life and are disease resistant. Vitamin A bananas have helped children in Uganda overcome Vitamin A deficiency. However if you look closely, you will notice Greenie’s monogram embedded into the DNA of the fruit. The apple seeds also match the seeds of the logo. This is a literal representation of corporations patenting DNA and branding it as their own.
Do these beneficial modifications outweigh the concerns of corporate control? Where do your values align?
Cubish Variety
This series is critiquing our relationship between the environment, technology and our convenience culture. Greenie believes grotesque Frankenfoods no longer seem “wrong” when it comes to convenience. Cubed vegetables would be easier to store, take up less space and reduce waste.
But are these cubed vegetables threatening our biodiversity? Does our preference for “natural” foods override our desire for convenience?
