Exhibition explores soil, future food and farming technology

ERR reports that a permanent exhibition titled “What Do I Need Soil For?” has opened at the Maaelu uudishimukeskus rural life centre in Ülenurme, introducing children and families to soil biodiversity and the future of agriculture.

The exhibition takes visitors beneath the ground to explore the organisms and processes that affect what reaches people’s plates. Its curator, Sandra Lääne, said plants are connected and can send signals to one another through roots and fungal networks.

“It has even been called the internet of forests,” Lääne said. “Plants really are connected to one another and send signals. Through roots and fungal networks, they warn neighbouring plants when a caterpillar is about to eat their leaves, when drought is expected or when a friend is pulled out of the soil.”

The exhibition offers children hands-on discoveries, including displays about food of the future. Airon, a student at Kuuste School, said he would like to try the printed meat shown at the exhibition because it looked tasty.

A tractor simulator provides another educational activity. Kadri Valner, head of the agricultural museum, said its purpose was to spark interest rather than simply let children drive a virtual tractor.

“Perhaps one of these children will become a promoter of rural life, a tractor driver or a farmer in the future,” Valner said.

The exhibition also examines what people may eat in the future. Lääne said there was no reason to fear that everyone would be eating crickets instead of chicken within five years, but added that more environmentally friendly and potentially healthier alternatives to animal protein were being developed and reaching the Estonian market.

Although artificial intelligence has already entered agriculture, the exhibition emphasises that the need for real people will not disappear.