NTU CCA IdeasFest is a platform to catalyse critical exchange of ideas and encourage thinking “out of the box”. It links the artistic and academic communities with grassroots and self-organised initiatives and small-scale entrepreneurship. Following the global call for an ecological turn in art, architecture, and design, NTU CCA IdeasFest 2023 FOOD Eat. Secure. Sustain. presents projects that engage, investigate, and aim to ensure food security on a healthy planet. The vitality of food poses a wide-ranging set of questions and problems when confronted with nature’s diminishing capacity to nourish life as a result of harmful anthropocentric activity. Such challenges demand that we rethink our modes of production and consumption.

This third edition of IdeasFest draws relational links to improve the understanding of sustainable food systems and their urgencies, opening a pathway towards actionable steps to ensure food security. Current food practices are threatening both people and planet; more nourishing and sustainable ways of eating and producing need to be developed. This need to transform our societies towards socio-ecological sustainability is clear, but many proposals lack the concrete economic and political scaffolding necessary to make their implementation feasible.

The global food system encompasses all economic sectors, and understanding its components is essential for developing and executing effective measures to strengthen its sustainability. IdeasFest 2023 FOOD Eat. Secure. Sustain. looks into how various technologies affect (traditional) food practices and culinary techniques, and which of these are valued. Food security hinges on sustainable food systems which are based on subsystems, including farming, waste management, and supply infrastructures, which in turn interact with trade, energy, and health systems.

Focusing on social interactions that connect academic research with artistic and cultural fields as well as with architecture and design applications, this edition draws a direct relation between human societies and their impact on the environment. It presents environmentally friendly ways of living, exploring regional crafts, reusing, repairing und upcycling. While scientific evidence on climate change and food scarcity is widely discussed, to materialise future-proof food communities, it requires socially robust and impactful proposals that create a relay between local perspectives and knowledge generated in academia. To address food related issues and the climate crisis in a continued dialogue is necessary, as there is a risk that the gravity and urgency of this crisis will not be fully comprehended.

As a platform to feature new initiatives, NTU CCA Ideas Fest FOOD Eat. Secure. Sustain. is an invitation to share and engage in cooperative projects and collective experiences through workshops, site visits, screenings, performances, public installations, participatory projects, and a summit. This diverse programme will be enriched by presentations of start-up initiatives and public dialogues on how to support Singapore’s aspiration to meet 30% of its nutritional requirements domestically by 2030 collectively and individually. A two-day Ideas Conference will bring together a prominent group of architects, theorists, researchers, curators, designers, and community groups to discuss further ideas on sustainability, circular economy, food security, creative learning, and the potential of cultural heritage such as crafts and sustainable urbanism to envision a responsible future city.

Ideas Fest 2023 FOOD Eat. Secure. Sustain., conceived in partnership with Singapore-ETH Centre Future Cities Laboratory Global, contemplates on sustainable food systems, climate awareness and solutions for a more sustainable future. Curated by Prof. Ute Meta Bauer (NTU CCA and NTU ADM), Magdalena Magiera (NTU CCA), Assoc. Prof. Laura Miotto (NTU ADM), Prof. Thomas Schroepfer (ETH FCL and SUTD), Dr. Tanvi Maheshwari (Associate Director for Research, Future Cities Laboratory Global)

Registration and tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite

SUMMIT

Free registration for Conference Days through https://bit.ly/ntuccaideasfest2023_events

Thursday, 16 February 2023
5.15pm – 8.00pm
Venue: CREATE Tower, 1 Create Way, 138602
Theatrette, Level 2

5.15 pm Registration and Coffee

5.45pm Opening addresses by 
Guest of Honor Dr. Alvin Yeo (Singapore), Senior Director, Joint Policy and Planning Division, Singapore Food Agency
Prof. Subodh Mhaisalkar (Singapore), Executive Director for Academic Research, National Research Foundation Singapore, President’s Chair in Energy and Professor, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
Prof. Tim White (Australia/ Singapore), Vice President (International Engagement); President’s Chair in Materials Science and Engineering; Professor, School of Materials Science & Engineering at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
Prof. Sacha Menz (Switzerland), Director of Future Cities Lab (FCL) Global and Professor of Architecture and Building Process, ETH Zürich
Prof. Thomas Schroepfer (Germany/Singapore), Co-Director, Future Cities Lab (FCL) Global, Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC) and Professor of Architecture and Sustainable Design, Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
Prof. Ute Meta Bauer (Germany/Singapore), Founding Director, NTU CCA Singapore and Professor at the School of Art, Design and Media (ADM), NTU 

6.30pm Keynote Lecture CLOSING THE LOOP: The Role of Circular Economy in the Food Sector
by Paula Huerta (Spain/Indonesia), Circular Economy Consultant and Director Bambook Studio and GUASL

Followed by a conversation with Assoc. Prof. Laura Miotto (Italy/Singapore), at the School of Art, Design, and Media (ADM), NTU
8.00pm RECEPTION

Friday, 17 February 2023
8.30am – 7.30pm

CREATE Tower, 1 Create Way, 138602
Theatrette, Level 2

8.30am Registration and Coffee

Food Ecosystems

9.00am Welcome by Co-Curators
Prof. Ute Meta Bauer (Germany/Singapore), Founding Director, NTU CCA and Professor at NTU ADM, Assoc. Prof. Laura Miotto (Italy/Singapore), NTU ADM, Prof. Thomas Schroepfer (Germany/Singapore), Co-Director, FCL-G, SEC, and Professor of Architecture and Sustainable Design, SUTD

9.10am Food Connects
Lecture by Raine Melissa Riman (Malaysia), Co-Curator, E.A.T Borneo Conference, media strategist and social media lead, What About Kuching Festival

9.40am Hello! I am a Black Soldier Fly and I am Transforming the Global Food System
Flash Lecture by Niraly Mangal (India/Singapore), Doctoral Researcher at SEC

10.00am Clinically Relevant Materials & Applications Inspired by Food Technologies
Flash Lecture by Prof. Wiliam Chen (Singapore), Michael Fam Endowed Professor and Director, Food Science and Technology, NTU 

10.20am Human Created Food Crisis
Flash Lecture by Britto Arts Trust / Mahbubur Rahman(Bangladesh), Artist, Co-Founder and Trustee, Britto Arts Trust

10.40am BREAK

11.00am Discussion with Prof. William Chen (Singapore), Michael Fam Endowed Professor, Director Food Science and Technology, NTU, Niraly Mangal (India/Singapore), Doctoral Researcher, SEC, Britto Arts Trust / Mahbubur Rahman (Bangladesh), Artist, Co-Founder and Trustee, Britto Arts Trust, and Raine Melissa Riman (Malaysia), Co-Curator, E.A.T Borneo Conference, media strategist and social media lead, What About Kuching Festival, Moderated by Prof. Ute Meta Bauer (Germany/Singapore), Founding Director, NTU CCA Singapore and Professor, NTU ADM

12.00pm LUNCH BREAK

Urban Food Alternatives

1.30pm Architecture of Urban Agriculture for Building Sustainable Cities,
by Prof. Thomas Schroepfer (Germany/Singapore), Co-Director, FCL-G, SEC Global, Assoc. Prof. Carlos Banon (Spain/ Singapore), SUTD and Director and Co-Founder, AIRLAB Singapore 

2.00pm How Singapore is Addressing Global Food and Environmental Challenges through Alternative Proteins,
Flash Lecture by Valerie Pang (Singapore), Innovation Associate, The Good Food Institute (GFI) APAC

2.20pm Healing Remedies & Roadside Beauties,
Flash Lecture by Adeline Kueh (Singapore), Artist, Senior Lecturer at LASALLE College of the Arts 

2.40pm Consumer Acceptance of Alternative Proteins: Enduring and Emerging Issues,
Flash Lecture by Bianca Wassmann (Germany/Philippines), Doctoral Researcher, SEC

3.00pm  BREAK

3.20pm Discussion with Assoc. Prof. Carlos Banon (Spain/Singapore), SUTD, Director and Co-Founder, AIRLAB Singapore, Valerie Pang (Singapore), Innovation Associate, GFI APAC, Adeline Kueh (Singapore), Artist, Senior Lecturer at LASALLE College of the Arts, and Bianca Wassmann (Germany/Philippines), Doctoral Researcher, SEC, Moderated by Prof. Thomas Schroepfer (Germany/Singapore), Co-Director, FCL-G, SEC

4.20pm BREAK

Non Conventional Food Sources

4.40pm Quantifying the Environmental Impact of Our Food – How To Make More Sustainable Choices
Flash Lecture by Dr. Iris Haberkorn (Germany/Singapore) Senior Researcher and Project Lead, SEC

5.10pm Urban Food Production in a Circular Bioeconomy with Microalgae as Case Study
Flash Lecture by Byron Perez (Ecuador/Singapore) Doctoral Researcher, SEC

5.30pm I Have Never Seen a Swimming Salmon in My Life
Flash Lecture by Hoo Fan Chon (Malaysia), Artist 

5.50pm Reporting on Singapore’s Innovations of Cultivated Meat
Flash Lecture Dr. Keri Matwick (USA/Singapore) Lecturer, School of Humanities NTU and Dr. Kelsi Matwick (USA/Singapore) Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Florida

6.10pm BREAK

6.30pm Discussion with Dr. Iris Haberkorn (Germany/Singapore), Senior Researcher and Project Lead, SEC, Byron Perez (Ecuador/Singapore), Doctoral Researcher, SEC, Hoo Fan Chon (Malaysia), Artist, and Dr. Keri Matwick, Lecturer, School of Humanities NTU, and Dr. Kelsi Matwick (USA/Singapore), Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Florida, Moderated by Dr. Tanvi Maheshwari (India/Singapore), Associate Director (Research), FCL-G, SEC

Saturday, 18 February 2023
09.00am – 1.00pm

CREATE Tower, 1 Create Way, 138602
Theatrette, Level 2

9.00am Registration and Coffee

Food Industries

9.30am Welcome by Co-Curators
Magdalena Magiera (Germany/Singapore), Curator and Research Associate NTU CCA Singapore, Dr. Tanvi Maheshwari (India/Singapore), Assoc. Director (Research), FCL-G, SEC

9.40am Sarawak Rice: From Traditional Significance to Modern Sustainability,
Lecture by Karen Shepherd (Malaysia) writer, content creator, and Strategic Director for UCCN Kuching Creative City

10.40am On Palms, Weevils, and Owls: Tracing more-than-human labour in the oil palm territories of Johor, Malaysia,
Flash Lecture by Hans Hortig (Austria/Singapore), Doctoral Researcher, FCL-G, SEC

11.00am Collective Making and Domestic Hacking,
Flash Lecture by Irene Agrivina (Indonesia), Artist, Co-Founder HONF and XXLAB

11.20am Microbial Fuel Cells: Mud, Microbes, and Midichlorians (of The Force),
Flash Lecture by Saad Chinoy (Singapore) Co-Founder, SpudnikLab, Storytellers’ Kitchen, and EdibleMakerspace

11.40am BREAK

12.00pm Discussion with Karen Shepherd (Malaysia), writer, content creator, and Strategic Director for UCCN Kuching Creative City, Hans Hortig (Austria/Singapore), Doctoral Researcher, FCL-G, SEC, Irene Agrivina (Indonesia), Artist, Co-Founder HONF and XXLAB, and Saad Chinoy (Singapore), Co-Founder, SpudnikLab, Storytellers’ Kitchen, and EdibleMakerspace, Moderated by Magdalena Magiera (Germany/Singapore), Curator and Research Associate NTU CCA Singapore

Saturday, 18 February 2023
04.00 – 6.00pm

National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road, Singapore 188969
Auditorium

4.00pm Circularity and 3D-printing for Addressing Urban Agriculture for Sustainable Future Cities,
A Talk by Assoc. Prof. Carlos Banon, SUTD, Director and Co-Founder, AIRLAB Singapore 
5.00pm   Guided Exhibition Tour of Circular Futures: Next Gen (following the lecture)

Sunday, 19 February 2023
04.00 – 6.00pm

National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road, Singapore 188969
Auditorium

4.00pm The Potential for Digital Models in Urban Agriculture
A Sharing Session by Alba Lombardia (Spain/Singapore) PhD Researcher SUTD, with introductions by Prof. Thomas Schroepfer (Germany/Singapore), Co-Director, FCL-G, SEC, and Professor of Architecture and Sustainable Design, SUTD, and Assoc. Prof. Carlos Banon, SUTD, Director and Co-Founder, AIRLAB Singapore 
5.00pm Guided Exhibition Tour of Circular Futures: Next Gen (following the sharing session)

WORKSHOPS

Saturday, 18 February 2023
Tickets for workshops can be purchased or registered for at https://bit.ly/ntuccaideasfest2023_events

10am – 1pm To Gathering: Food Flows
with Alecia Neo (Singapore) artist, Ground-Up Initiative (Singapore), and Madhumitha Ardhanari (Singapore), Principal Sustainability Strategist, Forum for the Future
Venue: Kampung Kampus, 91 Lorong Chencharu, Singapore 769201

2.30 – 5.30pm Grow Your Own Microgreens with PVs
with Dr. Christoph Waibel (Germany/Singapore), Module Coordinator, Powering the City, FCL-G, Dr. Shi Zhongming (China/Singapore), Principal Investigator, Building Integrated Agriculture, FCL-G, Dr. Zhang Qianning (China/Singapore), Principal Investigator, Building Integrated Agriculture, NUS, Dr. Huang Zhaolu (China/Singapore), Research fellow, Building Integrated Agriculture, NUS
Venue: Future Cities Laboratory, Value Lab, Level 6, CREATE Tower, 1 Create Way, Singapore 138602 

3.00–5.30pm Novel Materials
with Irene Agrivina (Indonesia) Artist, Co-Founder HONF and XXLAB, and Saad Chinoy (Singapore), Co-Founder, SpudnikLab, Storytellers’ Kitchen, EdibleMakerspace
Venue: NTU CCA Singapore, Block 37 Malan Road, #01-04, Singapore 109452

4.00 – 6.00pm An Afternoon with “Salmon” Tea Sandwich
with Hoo Fan Chon (Malaysia) Artist
Venue: NTU CCA Singapore, Block 38 Malan Road, #01-06, Singapore 109441

Sunday, 19 February 2023

Tickets for workshops can be purchased or registered for at https://bit.ly/ntuccaideasfest2023_events

10.00am – 12.00pm Stories & Food of Semakau
with Firdaus Sani (Singapore), Founder Oranglaut.sg and The Black Sampan
Venue: West Coast Park

10.00 – 11.30am Elevating the Ordinary: Crafting a Creative Exploration of an Everyday Staple
with Karen Shepherd (Malaysia) writer, content creator, and Strategic Director, UCCN Kuching Creative City, Raine Melissa Riman (Malaysia), Co-Curator, E.A.T Borneo Conference, media strategist and social media lead, What About Kuching Festival, and Dr. Franca Cole (UK/Malaysia), Consultant in Conservation and Archaeology, Sarawak Museum, Lecturer, NTU ADM
Venue: NTU CCA Singapore, Block 37 Malan Road, #01-04, Singapore 109452

10.00 – 12pm Healing Remedies & Roadside Beauties
with Adeline Kueh (Singapore), Artist, Senior Lecturer at LASALLE College of the Arts 
Venue: NTU CCA Singapore, Block 37 Malan Road, #01-02, Singapore 109452

10am – 12.30pm Edible Wild
with Native’s Joy Chee, Resident Bartender, Gardener at Native Bar
Venue:  NTU CCA Singapore, Block 6 Lock Road, Research Office, Singapore 108934

11.30am – 1.30pm Human Created Food Crisis
with Mahbubur Rahman (Bangladesh), Artist, Co-Founder and Trustee, Britto Arts Trust and Shimul Saha (Bangladesh), Artist, both members of Britto Arts Trust. 
Venue: Intermission Bar, The Projector, 6001 Beach Rd, #05-00 GOLDEN MILE TOWER, Singapore 199589

2.30 – 5.30pm DIY Self-Watering Plant Robot!
with Dr. Christoph Waibel (Germany/Singapore), Module Coordinator, Powering the City, FCL-G, Dr. Shi Zhongming (China/Singapore), Principal Investigator, Building Integrated Agriculture, FCL-G, Dr. Zhang Qianning (China/Singapore), Principal Investigator, Building Integrated Agriculture, NUS, Dr. Huang Zhaolu (China/Singapore), Research Fellow, Building Integrated Agriculture, NUS
Venue: NTU CCA Singapore, Block 37 Malan Road, #01-02, Singapore 109452

3.00 – 5.00pm How Food Media Affect What We Eat
with Dr. Keri Matwick (USA /Singapore) Lecturer, School of Humanities NTU and Dr. Kelsi Matwick (USA /Singapore) Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Florida
Venue: NTU CCA Singapore, Block 37 Malan Road, #01-04, Singapore 109452

EXHIBITIONS

NTU CCA Singapore, Block 37 & 38 Malan Road, Gillman Barracks,  Singapore
Exhibition Hours
Thursday, 16 – Sunday, 19 February 2023,   12.00 – 7.00pm 
Free admission to all exhibitions

Hello! I am a Black Soldier Fly and I am Transforming the Global Food System
Primary Contributor: Niraly Mangal, Doctoral Researcher, SEC
Other Contributors: Adrian Fuhrmann, PhD Researcher, SEC, Vartika Goenka, Research Assistant, SEC, Heng Chin Wee, Research Assistant SEC, Shaktheeshwari Silvaraju, PhD Student, SEC, Chloe Tan, Research Assistant, SEC, Tan Yong Jen, Research Assistant, SEC, Yanyun Yan, Research Associate, Zhang Qihui, PhD student 
NTU CCA Singapore, Block 37 Malan Road, #01-03, Singapore 109452

Sustainable Food Systems with Microalgae-based Proteins
Dr. Iris Haberkorn, Senior Researcher and Project Lead, SEC, Byron Perez, Doctoral Researcher, SEC, Helena Schmitt, PhD Researcher, SEC, Carole Zermatten, Student SEC
NTU CCA Singapore, Block 37 Malan Road, #01-03, Singapore 109452

Hoo Fan Chon
NTU CCA Singapore, Block 38 Malan Road, #01-06, Singapore 109441

The Journey of Food
Primary Contributors: Yuhao Lu, Postdoc. Researcher, FCL-G, Helen Lei Fan, Research Assistants, FCL-G
Other Contributors: Kaiyu Lu, Research Assistants, FCL-G, Muhammad Is’Maill Bin Azman, Research Assistants, FCL-G, Isabella Meo, Research Assistants, FCL-G, Jasper Phang Wee Keat, Research Assistants, FCL-G,  Zi Gui Toh, Research Assistants, FCL-G, Loo Yanshan, Research Assistants, FCL-G
NTU CCA Singapore, Block 38 Malan Road, #01-05, Singapore 109441

Potential Agriterritories – Agrarian Questions and Agroecological Design Architecture of Territory
Assoc. Prof. Milica Topalovic, Architecture and Territorial Planning, Department of Architecture, ETH Zurich, Alice Clarke, Teaching Assistant, Architecture of Territory, ETH Zurich, Hans Hortig, Doctoral Researcher, FCL-G, SEC, Karoline Kostka, Senior Researcher, New Urban Agendas for Agrarian Territories, FCL-G, SEC, and Students of the joint Master of Advanced Studies at the ETH Zürich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (ETH EPFL MAS UTD)
NTU CCA Singapore, Block 38 Malan Road, #01-07, Singapore 109441