Re–generation is a project that took place during the second semester of the study course “Eco-Social Design” at the free university of Bolzano. The goal was to spread local knowledge of existing alternative farmers in the region to the next generation of young farmers. The end product is a booklet which aims to inform, inspire and empower them, by compiling practical tips, tricks and advice they don't have access to in the conventional school system. My team and I partnered with Farmfluencers, a network of small-scale alternative* farmers in South Tyrol, who “Together […] want to try to reinterpret neighbourliness in order to support the ecosocial transformation and preservation of small-scale farms in South Tyrol.” (M. Hollnaicher). The two founders, Meike and Tom, use various media channels such as a website, Instagram, podcasts and documentary films to strengthen the bond these farmers have to each other, as well as to raise awareness about the importance of alternative farming in the region.

As designers, we are not experts in the field of Agriculture, so what could we bring to the table? Especially as eco-social designers, we had an interdisciplinary overview over many different fields spanning from social sciences to natural sciences. We have the ability to view the whole picture, to see and facilitate the forming of connections and the spread of knowledge that would have otherwise stayed “hidden away” in the academic bubble. As important as theoretical research is, so is its practical application.