Research Signals - #1 Future Past Patterns
Research Signal #1 - Main Signal: “In food, the patterns of the future are the patterns of the past, or how our brain keeps tricking us. ” Writer: Transformative Times Team
Welcome to a series of tiny thoughts about our research regarding food.
A speculative fresco in Pompei with food from nowadays (Image generated using Midjourney)
Decoded Text
/ When we often type “The future of” it is a close look into something that we expect to happen, whether good or bad. Meaning that we look for products, services, or concepts we wish to envision that will unfold in the future.
/ Evolutionary forces taught us what was good and not good; those instincts still play a significant role in everyday life. And not only food-related, whose details affect daily life and how we perceive things.
/ We will continue to see sustainable food having its own war for acceptance, as it always happened in the past with any new food.
Decoded Ideas
/ Contrary to spaceships and new imaginary planets, it is tough to imagine radical alternative dishes and ways of eating. And it is good that we can't do the exercise well, as it would be a waste of time. We are wired not to change our eating habits, so we must think about the future differently. We eat as much as with the stomach as with the brain, and it is here where significant impacts on habits happen.
/ Food follows many other patterns in our species regarding evolution. We need time to adapt and adopt new food habits. Imagine going to a restaurant where all the lab-grown meat is served scrambled in a bowl that does not look that good compared to a burger that replaces conventional meat with lab-grown meat. You will probably be more open to trying the second one.
/ Over the past few years, we have been reading that "insects are the food of the future" and that, somehow, will become part of our daily lives. And upon this information, humans do what they do best: exaggerate reality. While countless reports and studies point out that an insect-based diet is necessary for the planet's sustainability, our fears, anxieties, and patterns on how we react to anything new will continue to appear. As they always did.
Finding Highlight
Explore humans being humans through a timeline. Reflect how much of it is also true regarding the future of food.
https://pessimistsarchive.org/
Research Signals are short insights directly from the research board. They are bits and pieces collected, aiming to give clues and inspiration to anyone interested in food innovation. As these signals are detached from the source, they do not provide a complete comprehension of the message but rather a call to make anyone search within a new perspective. Current research focuses on how to accelerate the adoption of new food habits.
About us
Transformative Times is a research platform for different companies and organizations to work together towards new futures. Find more about what we are doing by reaching out to us or following us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
https://transformative-times.com/