In this special roundtable edition of Efecto Cascada, we return to the innovative world of Hungry EcoCities an EU-funded project harnessing the power of art, storytelling, and emerging tech to reshape our relationship with food. Following our first episode with project coordinator Lydia, we now spotlight three extraordinary artistic teams who are turning food futures into tangible, thought-provoking experiences.
Joining us are Katya Briskina and Nataly Katyova of IM-A Studio, creators of Future Protein; Bernat Cuní, the mind behind WTFood; and Jeroen van der Most, creator of The Vegetable Vendetta.
Designing Tomorrow’s Food Systems Through Art
From mussels to marketing, these artists show how creativity can decode the complex networks that feed us.
IM-A Studio’s Future Protein dives deep—literally—into the future of aquaculture. Their project, Mussel ID, explores mussels as climate-positive protein and envisions floating farms that could one day replace terrestrial agriculture. Built as both a methodology and interactive platform, Mussel ID lets users simulate mussel farms, calculate their environmental impact, and reflect on how meals connect to ocean health.
“We wanted people to stop seeing food as abstract,” says Katya. “When you eat mussels, you’re also capturing carbon, producing biomaterials, and filtering water.”
Meanwhile, Bernat Cuní’s WTFood acts as a visual hack of the food system. By simply pointing a camera at produce, users can reveal hidden “glitches” like labor exploitation or pesticide overuse. The tool doesn’t stop at critique—it links users to local actions, making systemic change feel accessible and immediate.
“We live with the anxiety of being part of unjust systems,” says Bernat. “So this project had to be optimistic and actionable.”
Jeroen van der Most’s Vegetable Vendetta flips food advertising on its head. Using AI to generate high-end marketing content for vegetables, it challenges the monopoly of big brands over consumer desire. His playful yet political installations let users create branded content for potatoes or tomatoes in real time—raising questions about power, aesthetics, and how media shapes taste.
“With AI, even small farmers can produce content rivaling that of global food brands,” says Jeroen. “That levels the playing field.”
EP 27 – Hungry EcoCities PT.2
Beyond the Prototype
All three projects move far beyond the gallery space or the screen. Mussel ID envisions partnerships with aquaculture farms and hopes to scale its platform as a transparent food system simulator. WTFood is being developed as a community workshop tool, adaptable to exhibitions and grassroots campaigns. And Vegetable Vendetta is touring Europe—from pop art museums in Estonia to AI conferences in Paris—offering a new lens on tech, food, and the politics of persuasion.
Food Systems, Rethought
What connects these projects is not just food, but a refusal to accept the status quo. Whether by reclaiming food narratives, revealing hidden data, or reshaping rituals, these artists are calling for food systems that are transparent, just, and imaginative.
“Most people don’t even know where their food comes from,” says Nataly. “We want to bring people back to the landscape—whether that’s a potato field or a mussel farm.”
“There’s no single food system,” adds Bernat. “It’s a broken network of stakeholders. That’s why we need collective tools and stories to rewire it.”
Listen to the Full Episode
Whether imagining mussel-based rituals or giving AI to broccoli, these artists remind us: Food is culture. Food is politics. Food is future.
“Let’s not chase perfect tomatoes for fast food chains,” says Jeroen. “Let’s grow real food for real people—with stories, not slogans.”
Hungry for more? Catch the full episode and check out all previous conversations on Spotify, Amazon, YouTube, and Efecto Cascada.
This podcast has been made possible thanks to the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan of the Spanish Government. Their support has been fundamental to carry out this podcast.
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