Scientists from the Mendel University in Brno will participate in a European project to respond to major global changes in society. Most of the population is now moving to big cities and the question of how to feed these cities arises. The project, called Hungry EcoCities, will last almost 4 years and has a budget of 2.8 million euros. One of its goals is to increase people’s trust in digital technologies, which are increasingly reflected in agriculture and food.
The uniqueness of the research lies, among other things, in the fact that within it, growers and agricultural experts will work closely with artists, designers and scientists in the field of IT and artificial intelligence, food industry, biotechnology to come up with new ideas for the future food system for all.
“Together with our colleagues, we will strive to increase people’s trust in digital technologies and their acceptance in society through art and the development of digital technologies, while still preserving and recognizing human values and thereby enabling social inclusion and environmentally friendly innovation,” said Dalibor Húska from the Institute of chemistry and biochemistry of the Mendel University in Brno.
One way to proceed is to implement digital technologies in the agricultural sector through artistically motivated experiments to address social, business and sustainability challenges. Another path is to develop new products and services in line with a human-centred approach, innovation and sustainability goals through specialized collaboration between the arts, industry and research and development sectors. The entire project has been inspired by Carolyn Steel’s book from 2008, which addresses the fundamental question of the contemporary civilized world, which includes socioeconomic, cultural, and above all agronomic impacts on sustainable agriculture.
The scientific consortium consists of eight scientific workplaces from seven countries, from the Czech Republic it also includes experts from Brno University of Technology. The MENDEL Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is tasked with designing, consulting and verifying a virtual laboratory. For example, experts from seven countries, including MENDELU, will consult with the artists and connect design with functionality. “We will design and build a digital environment that will connect with existing platforms and thus provide a framework for the usability of artificial intelligence that will allow the entire process to be managed and suggest possible solutions and improvements,” Húska supplied.
Contact for journalists: Ing. Dalibor Húska, Ph.D., dalibor.huska@mendelu.cz; Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of AgriSciences
More news
-
The winner of the second year of the MENDELU Boost student business ideas competition was healthy energy drinks. The second place went to car accessories made from a 3D printer with a special coating, while the third place went to drones made from…23. 6. 2025
-
MENDELU opens renovated building of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
After approximately two years, Mendel University in Brno is reopening Building D, which has undergone a complete reconstruction. The building, which houses the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, is now named the Professor Adam Pavilion, after…20. 6. 2025 -
MENDELU to lead international project supporting innovation in precision…
Mendel University in Brno has been awarded a prestigious grant from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) to implement an international project focused on fostering innovation in the field of precision medicine, titled…12. 6. 2025 -
International scientific team focuses on the impacts of Mediterranean cyclones
The Mediterranean basin is often subject to strong weather events caused by Mediterranean cyclones (medcyclones). These weather phenomena, which are sometimes comparable in intensity and impact to hurricanes, affect the weather in the region and are…5. 6. 2025 -
Five Female Wolves Fitted with GPS Collars in the Beskydy and Javorníky…
Researchers from the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology at Mendel University in Brno have successfully captured and fitted GPS telemetry collars on five female wolves in the Beskydy and Javorníky Mountains over the past two years. These collars…28. 5. 2025 -
MENDELU research team explores alternative ways of growing malting barley
The scientific team of the Faculty of AgriSciences at MENDELU in cooperation with Plzeňský Prazdroj, the agricultural company JTZE a.s. and the Czech University of Agriculture is investigating alternative methods of growing malting barley in the…15. 5. 2025 -
MENDELU expands preventive measures against the spread of foot-and-mouth disease
The Mendel University in Brno is taking additional preventive measures against the possible spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) infection from Hungary and Slovakia. This is in response to new regulations of the State Veterinary Administration on…8. 4. 2025 -
Student Design 2025: the Upholstery Craft Award goes to MENDELU
The Student Design 2025 competition, held at the Mobitex fair at the Brno Exhibition Centre, awarded the works of students from secondary schools and universities from the Czech and Slovak Republics. The Upholstery Craftsmanship Award went to…2. 4. 2025 -
WATERLINE Hosts Successful International Academic-to-Business Meetings:…
The WATERLINE project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at revolutionizing advanced water skills and digital innovation in the water sector, successfully hosted a two-part International Academic-to-Business event on January 30th and February 20th,…25. 3. 2025 -
This year, five doctoral students were awarded a scholarship in the MENDELU Ph…
In the fourth edition of the two-round competition for supplementary talent scholarships, MENDELU Ph.D. Talent, a total of five doctoral students succeeded. Ten Ph.D. candidates advanced to the second round, with half of them making it to the final.20. 3. 2025