Un-Boxing Organics

How can we use design thinking to improve the ecosystem for organics in India? Yesterday, the UnBox conference gathered a group of 18 people--including farmers, designers, architects, and others from at least four countries--to tackle this question. Four of us presented what we had learned from recent visits to farms and conversations with farmers, retailers, and middlemen. 

Then we divided into groups to brainstorm and scheme. We thought about how to reach people through institutions like schools, hospitals, or temples, what celebrities would be good champions for the benefits of organic food, and what it would take to make policymakers want to mainstream organics. The excitement in the room was tangible. People were exchanging contact information and farmers were arranging to deliver produce to others in the room. 

Discussion participant with some brainstormed ideas.

Ideas ranged from the practical to the pie-in-the-sky: 
--Asking local restaurants to feature at least one item on the menu made from organic ingredients
--Giving people portable testers to monitor their own food for pesticide residues
--Connecting Indian organic farmers with retailers, restaurants, and customers through an “E-Bay” type platform
--Featuring organic food on food, parenting, and health shows and magazines

--Making a viral video like “The Story of Stuff” for food

While implementing some of the ideas will take years of work, we've decided to get started on others right away: We’ll be gathering in Lodhi Gardens next weekend for an organic potluck to start weaving a community of people interested in giving everyone access to healthy, chemical-free food. Join us and help build the movement!