SINTEZO
Edition 5 - OUT NOW
May 2024
»A briefing on complexity, resilience, interdisciplinarity and ideas»
The story of food captivates us, offering an array of dimensions that endlessly intrigue. As SINTEZO magazine enters its third year, we embark on a collaborative exploration of these diverse facets. A multitude of contributors will share their insights, perspectives, and experiences; shedding light on various aspects of food.
While we propose two starting points — global attention to food security and the rise of urban and peri-urban agriculture — we acknowledge that these are not limitations. From community gardens and local social enterprise urban farms to rooftop farms and ambitious urban farming start-ups, the methods of food cultivation in urban settings continue to diversify. This expansion into urban life also encompasses broader agricultural considerations, involving elements of ecology, biodiversity, urban planning, and the socio-cultural and economic foundations of food cultivation.
The heightened focus on food security has prompted governments worldwide to conduct extensive inquiries, seeking a better understanding of the factors shaping the future of food. The story of food is, in many ways, a reflection of culture, society, cities, and communities. This presents an exciting opportunity for innovation, collaboration, and sustainability in the production, distribution, and management of food, with minimal negative externalities.
This edition of SINTEZO invites exploration of various ways in which food is, or can be, produced, particularly emphasising the involvement of people, local communities, urban policymakers, entrepreneurs, and others shaping the collective future of food. Through a compilation of essays, thought-provoking articles, experiences and research findings, our goal is to facilitate engaging dialogues among all stakeholders.
While we do not expect definitive answers, we hope that the shared insights will be engaging, not only for those deeply entrenched in the food space, but also for those yet to discover the enchanting narrative of food.
As always, our approach to creating each edition of SINTEZO is partially inspired by the idea that any object, concept, or phenomenon can be viewed from many angles – our own version of the Rashomon effect. Conventionally, the Rashomon effect refers to a situation whereby a single event is described in different ways by various witnesses. The concept, which emerged following the 1951 film ‘Rashomon’ where Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa first deployed this kind of storytelling technique, can be expanded to apply to the way we witness not just a single event, but also a broader phenomenon. Observing how cities work, or how communities or organisations function, can be equally subjected to the Rashomon effect.
By gathering various voices, we seek to create a brief that offers readers the opportunity to reflect on different views; without an imposed structure or order, so they can build their own picture after reading the essays curated for SINTEZO.
Finally, the visual identity of SINTEZO draws on images of nature, in particular the structures of plants such as leaves, stems and roots in the hope of building bridges and connections between concepts and themes.
Edition 5 - OUT NOW
May 2024
»A briefing on complexity, resilience, interdisciplinarity and ideas»
The story of food captivates us, offering an array of dimensions that endlessly intrigue. As SINTEZO magazine enters its third year, we embark on a collaborative exploration of these diverse facets. A multitude of contributors will share their insights, perspectives, and experiences; shedding light on various aspects of food.
While we propose two starting points — global attention to food security and the rise of urban and peri-urban agriculture — we acknowledge that these are not limitations. From community gardens and local social enterprise urban farms to rooftop farms and ambitious urban farming start-ups, the methods of food cultivation in urban settings continue to diversify. This expansion into urban life also encompasses broader agricultural considerations, involving elements of ecology, biodiversity, urban planning, and the socio-cultural and economic foundations of food cultivation.
The heightened focus on food security has prompted governments worldwide to conduct extensive inquiries, seeking a better understanding of the factors shaping the future of food. The story of food is, in many ways, a reflection of culture, society, cities, and communities. This presents an exciting opportunity for innovation, collaboration, and sustainability in the production, distribution, and management of food, with minimal negative externalities.
This edition of SINTEZO invites exploration of various ways in which food is, or can be, produced, particularly emphasising the involvement of people, local communities, urban policymakers, entrepreneurs, and others shaping the collective future of food. Through a compilation of essays, thought-provoking articles, experiences and research findings, our goal is to facilitate engaging dialogues among all stakeholders.
While we do not expect definitive answers, we hope that the shared insights will be engaging, not only for those deeply entrenched in the food space, but also for those yet to discover the enchanting narrative of food.
As always, our approach to creating each edition of SINTEZO is partially inspired by the idea that any object, concept, or phenomenon can be viewed from many angles – our own version of the Rashomon effect. Conventionally, the Rashomon effect refers to a situation whereby a single event is described in different ways by various witnesses. The concept, which emerged following the 1951 film ‘Rashomon’ where Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa first deployed this kind of storytelling technique, can be expanded to apply to the way we witness not just a single event, but also a broader phenomenon. Observing how cities work, or how communities or organisations function, can be equally subjected to the Rashomon effect.
By gathering various voices, we seek to create a brief that offers readers the opportunity to reflect on different views; without an imposed structure or order, so they can build their own picture after reading the essays curated for SINTEZO.
Finally, the visual identity of SINTEZO draws on images of nature, in particular the structures of plants such as leaves, stems and roots in the hope of building bridges and connections between concepts and themes.
Jelenko Dragisic and Caroline Austin
Editorial team
May 2024
Editorial team
May 2024