Future Food Roadshow: questions and answers
Q. What is the roadshow about?
A. The FutureFood roadshow is about the developments and issues around food that New Zealanders may encounter over the next ten years.
It creates scenarios set approximately ten years into the future based on current research and developments. Many of the ideas represented in the roadshow are interpretations of the future, and are designed to stimulate debate, rather than predict the future.
For example, visitors can interact with futuristic kitchen appliances and get a glimpse of the challenges that they face choosing foods in the future for themselves and their families. They can then investigate the science and business opportunities emerging in New Zealand that relate to their food, and see how these developments are, and will be key to the New Zealand economy and environment.
Overall it aims to show people that their choices about food are important for both themselves and the country.
Q. What is the purpose of the roadshow?
A. The roadshow was created to engage the public in contemporary issues and developments around food in New Zealand. The overall aim is to get people thinking and talking about food, and about the choices they face in deciding the future of food. This will raise awareness of issues likely to be debated in the public arena in years to come.
It is designed to be a user-friendly space where people can easily access the science behind food, the issues raised by potential future developments, and the challenges individuals face in the future. By using a futuristic scenario it encourages people to challenge and debate developments without fear of being wrong.
This is the third roadshow created by MoRST as part of a series of public engagement initiatives. The first was the Biotechnology Roadshow in 2006, and the second was the Future Farming Roadshow in 2007.
Q. How was it created?
A. MoRST engaged Lumen, a user-experience design agency, to develop the concept and interpretation for the exhibit. Scientific advisors, government agencies and consumer groups were involved in developing the exhibit and ensured all contemporary research was depicted accurately.