Seaweed pizza and bugs - kids predict culinary delights of the future

Students from Bready Primary School have been imagining what people will be eating 200 years from now as part of an exciting time capsule project. On Wednesday, a group of children dressed in high-visibility jackets buried a time capsule under a new urban farm in Londonderry. This farm is designed to help combat climate change and to spark conversations about future food. The pupils placed their time capsule in the foundation of the Acorn Farm Project's impressive 20-meter-high dome at St Columb's Park, located in the city's Waterside area. Inside the capsule, they included vegetable seeds, coins, and their own writings that document the foods they eat today and their predictions for what future generations will consume. The £6. 2 million farm project aims to create a working urban farm, a community education center, and a venue for sustainable food. Wyatt, a 9-year-old student, expressed his excitement about being part of this project. He believes that the meals of the future will look very different from what we are accustomed to today. Wyatt shared his thoughts with BBC News NI, saying, 'Food in the future may be 3D-printed food, and I think it will be meat made in a lab. ' He hopes that burgers will still be available, but he also thinks that eating bugs will become common. Another student, Scarlett, who is 10 years old, echoed Wyatt's sentiments. She mentioned that it feels great to contribute to the environment and to think about the importance of growing local food. Scarlett predicts that in 200 years, people will be consuming bugs for protein and 3D-printed food, which she finds fascinating. She also believes that seaweed and lab-grown meat will be part of future diets. Although she has never tasted seaweed, she is curious to try it. Rachel, another classmate, agrees with Scarlett and thinks that seaweed will definitely be on the menu in the future. She imagines that seaweed could be a delicious topping for pizza. Rachel shared, 'My favorite food is chicken nuggets, but I don't think we will have that in the future. I think seaweed pizza will be tasty. ' Principal David Bogle expressed his delight at the school's involvement in this significant project. He noted that the students enjoyed learning about sustainability and how everyone can play a role in ensuring that our environment can support vital food sources in a responsible and sustainable manner. The students were joined by the mayor of Derry and Strabane, Lilian Seenoi-Barr, during the event. She acknowledged the many challenges we face regarding climate change but emphasized that the message left for future generations in the time capsule is a hopeful one. It demonstrates a commitment to making positive changes for the better. The Acorn Farm, located near the Ebrington site in Derry, is being developed by the local council with funding from the UK Government's Levelling Up fund. Once completed, the mayor added, the farm will promote sustainable living, environmental education, and community involvement, becoming a hub for local events, activities, and learning experiences. The dome will be a prominent feature of the farm, designed to be both functional and visually appealing. The burial of the time capsule in Derry is particularly meaningful as it comes ten years after another capsule, dating back to 1839, was discovered and opened in the city. This highlights the importance of remembering our past while looking forward to the future.