In the beginning of the project, we synthesized our analysis of the current situation and illustrated it in a first string figure. To reduce the resulting complexness, we decided to focus on the food industry. It’s a system driven mostly by monetary interests, where climate, improving the waste management or extinguishing hunger usually play a rather insignificant role. 

To provide our approach with Raumwirksamkeit and to concretize our aim further, we investigated the food-supply-chain concerning Munich and the food industry in general. As we linked our existing knowledge with recently learnt – e.g. Germany exports more food as it imports - it became clear, that one strong and obvious solution lies within “going local” and taking advantage of already existing structures. And as more and more climatic and pandemic emergencies are becoming part of the futures and the present, the question arises, how to achieve a food industry that is relying on local production as well as on local consumption. The data on food industry we found, strengthened our idea that it is essential to re-think the distribution. There is enough food planted for everyone – also in Germany. 

As already stated in the preface, we consider infrastructure as the a method to establish a resource efficient management system to scale down the environmental impacts of the food industry. So we started to develop a local and circular food supply chain using already existing infrastructure. But we redefined them in an ecological friendly way to minimize the need for new buildings or reformation of the built environment but reaching for a maximized impact. 

While doing our research, it became explicit, that we cannot deal with the food industry in its entity. It is too big and too complex for project lasting a few weeks. So we focused on what grows in Germany, is produced and processed here – leaving aside the meat and dairy industries and the topic of (imported) exotic fruits and vegetables. 

In a next step, we had a closer look where the food is coming from. E.g., there are enough vegetables but there are not enough fruits planted in Bavaria to provide a full-scale coverage. But the area of Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg is providing sufficient amounts of fruits, which get shipped to Munich. The best way to transport food is via railway. Tracks allow to connect regional products to the railway system and makes the DB Cargo an important partner. Within the city, we also take advantage of the existing transportation infrastructure to reach the highest areal coverage. To achieve this, the selling units are located at the stations. As they are becoming an important visual part of the city, it is mandatory to furnish them with a Corporate Identity. Another issue to focus on further are the ware-houses in the city. They have the potential of becoming a lot more than simple storage spaces. They have the possibilities of becoming economic and ecological hubs. 

To sum up, we’re not simply aiming at providing a regional food-supply-chain but also to include the tropes we have encountered during the process of this project. 

​

​

​

​