These are some of the central questions explored in the new fictional audio drama Enkido’s Mat, a podcast exploring new possibilities for food production in the future. In a world where bioreactors exist alongside conventional agriculture, the podcast delves into how food is grown and how it is prepared.

The podcast is produced by Umami Produktion in collaboration with Climaginaries, Lund University, and Biotech Heights, with support from Vinnova. Through storytelling, it invites listeners to reflect on the different factors influencing food production and how they might evolve over time.  

As societies navigate challenges like climate change and resource availability, discussions about different approaches to food production continue to grow. By 2045, bioreactors may become a widely used tool for food production alongside farms. But how do we introduce these new methods while respecting culinary traditions and cultural heritage?

The story takes listeners to Jordeberg Farm, a place where innovation and tradition meet. Here, both bioreactors and conventional farming contribute to food production, offering a glimpse into a future of both collaboration and contestation. At the heart of the show is Enkido, a charismatic host, and Emelie Månsdotter, the farm’s head chef, who prepares meals using both traditional ingredients and new, cultivated alternatives.

Through immersive storytelling, Enkido’s Mat transports listeners into this evolving world, bringing the sounds of cooking, the hum of bioreactors, and the crackle of fresh ingredients to life. The podcast provides insight into technological advancements in food production and the personal stories of those engaging with these developments

The project is part of Climaginaries, a platform dedicated to exploring climate futures through storytelling. Led by Johannes Stripple, a political science professor at Lund University, Climaginaries has previously produced projects such as Carbon Ruins, Memories of the Transition Years, and the speculative guidebook Rough Guide Notterdam.

Link to podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/climaginaries/episodes/Enkidos-mat---Trailer-e2tsuce/a-abobnom

www.climaginaries.org