Ministry of Soil
A speculative design scenario characterised by rigorous enforcement of hyper-localized biosecurity measures.
2024
MA Service Design
London College of Communication (LCC)
University of the Arts London (UAL)
Project partner
Theories applied
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Speculative Design
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Critical Design
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Critical Service Design
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Backcasting
Overview
The Ministry of Soil is an imaginary future scenario designed to spark dialogue between local farmers and DEFRA about soil health and carbon emissions. By provoking reflection on potential risks and alternative futures, the project aimed to inspire policy design and farming practices that align with more sustainable and preferable outcomes.
The impact
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Provoking dialogue
Prototypes were showcased at a DEFRA conference, where staff engaged with the speculative scenario and participated in conversations sparked by it.
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Sparking reflection concern
Through role-playing as members of a future National Soil Security team, project representatives encouraged DEFRA staff to reflect on potential soil-related risks and reconsider how their current work might address emerging challenges.
Figure 1. Timeline of the Scenario of the Ministry of Soil
The scenario
Set in a fictional UK crisis called SOLOID-27, a soil pandemic, the scenario imagines a future where hyper-localised biosecurity measures are strictly enforced to:
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Fortify soil health and biodiversity.
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Reduce carbon emissions.
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Improve farm profitability.
In this future, DEFRA establishes new governance structures such as the National Soil Security system, NHS for Soil and the Soil Police Force, alongside initiatives like soil doctors, soil legal rights, soil rangers, and soil solicitors.
A set of prototypes including the Soiloid-27 Rapid Test, soil passport, soil certificate and advertisement of NHS for soil was created to bring the scenario to life and encourage stakeholders to imagine alternative futures that might inform present-day decisions.
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Figure 2a & 2b. Newspaper illustrating the world in 2047
Figure 3. Rapid Test Kit for soil pandemic Soiloid-27
Figure 4. Soil Border Passport and Soil Visa of the National Soil Security System
Figure 5. Notice of Soil Violation used by Soil Police
Figure 6. NHS for Soil and Soil Doctor
Figure 7. Social Media Posts of Government Departments Enforcing the Soil Biosafety Measures
Figure 8. Black Market Selling Illegal Soil