INTERNATIONAL CONTEST

ABSTRACT

Food is one of the most fundamental elements of human existence. Looking back, the way we produce, store and consume food has evolved greatly. Humans have thrived because our ancestors learned how to gather, produce and consume food, all with their bare hands. And mankind has sustained due to these crucial elements of knowledge passed through generations. With industrialization came mass production, and with mass production came an influx of consumers - who started paying instead. Skills and crafts related to agriculture and food production are now mostly obsolete in the urbane environment. Mass consumerism through supermarkets and even online mediums is slowly changing how we perceive, acquire and consume food.

This has raised issues like overconsumption, poor quality, high wastage and an over-dependence on manufacturing agencies. In the long run, our perception of fresh foods/fruits will be completely eroded by advertisements and fancy packaging, which can have irreversible impacts on health, and hence, the human evolution cycle.

The time to intervene is now!.

MORAY  2.0

SUMMARY 

Currently, our consumer lifestyle is developed in 17% of the land surface, of which 4% goes to agriculture and food production. Only with this percentage human activities and their consequences have extinct 79 species of mammals, 23 reptiles, 36 amphibians and 134 birds in the last decade according to the IUCN report The reason of the desire to innovate in agricultural processes is the global problem of overpopulation. It is estimated that the number of people grows by 200,000 inhabitants per day (When in 1950 the growth was only 130 inhabitants). This demographic explosion influences society and life in general. The UN announced the projections for the following years (2018 - 2030). The growth is unstoppable, the main human areas that will be affected will be: food, housing, health, employment, and transportation. The controversial issue is whether conventional agricultural systems will be competent enough to provide the demand of the next generations in the way they are being applied today, with a harmful environmental impact and minimum efficiency in crops, or if we must do the research and, consequently, generate knowledge of the alternative methods, that carry out a suitable interrelation between the benefit of the product and its ecological footprint, which guarantees faster and more efficient processes. The proposal is an agricultural innovation center that functions as a prototype of an endogenous machine. It will have spaces with the appropriate technological equipment for research and testing of hydroponic, aquaponic and cutting-edge methods.With the aim of developing knowledge to produce food in less time, savings in the use of water for cultivation and lower costs in the processes. Ensuring the continuity of the species over time and its eco-friendly relationship with its ecosystem.