In 2040, 9 out of 10 meals are within planetary boundaries
SPECULATIVE DESIGN
Universal basic nutrient income -
Ensuring equal access to sustainable and healthy nutrients
Background
As climate change intensifies, Sweden’s food systems are increasingly strained. Extreme weather, unpredictable growing seasons, and rising temperatures have begun to challenge agricultural productivity globally. Sweden's significant reliance on import leaves its food security vulnerable to the fluctuations of unstable global supply chains. Geopolitical instability, climate impacts, and trade disruptions can create sudden shortages of essential food items, exposing the risks inherent in a system heavily dependent on imports. As these supply chains become increasingly vulnerable, we face the harsh reality of food insecurity, raising critical questions about the sustainability of Sweden’s food systems.
Quantity over quality
Sweden’s food economy, like much of the global system, is largely driven by profit-per-kilo models that prioritize yield and efficiency over sustainability and nutrition. This focus has led to intensive agricultural practices that heavily rely on chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and monoculture cropping. While these methods may initially boost productivity, they often degrade the very soils they depend on, resulting in diminished fertility, erosion, and a loss of biodiversity. Over time, this degradation leads to a vicious cycle: as soil quality declines, so too does the nutrient density of crops, which in turn threatens food security and public health.
The true cost of food
This economic focus also leads to a food pricing that often favors imported, highly processed, and nutrient-poor products, making affordable, sustainable, and healthy food a privilege for some rather than a guarantee for all. In urban centers, the effects of this inequality are increasingly visible as rates of diet-related diseases are rising, and healthier options are frequently inaccessible in lower-income neighborhoods.
Failure to recognize the challenges of dietary changes
For many Swedes, transitioning to a more sustainable diet is a difficult task. Deeply rooted dietary habits, cultural preferences, and economic pressures complicate the shift toward sustainable foods. A strong reliance on meat and processed foods, coupled with unfamiliarity with plant-based or nutrient-dense alternatives, presents significant barriers to change. Additionally, navigating the landscape of sustainability labels, health guidelines, and marketing claims can be overwhelming for consumers, making it difficult to identify truly sustainable options. When customers hesitate or struggle to embrace these new dietary patterns, it leads to a low demand for sustainably produced foods.
A system stuck in the loop
This creates a challenging paradox for farmers and producers: without adequate consumer support, the financial risks associated with transitioning to sustainable practices grow significantly. As a result, many producers may hesitate to invest in change, fearing they will not regain their costs in a market that lacks sufficient demand for sustainable options. This cycle continues to drive an unsustainable food system that continues to undermine both public health and environmental integrity.
In light of these challenges, we ask ourselves:
What if our future system actively took part in accelerating the change needed?
What is speculative design
Speculative design is a design practice focused on exploring potential futures and alternative realities, often in response to social, technological, environmental, or cultural issues. Rather than aiming to create solutions for current problems, speculative design imagines "what if" scenarios that provoke thought, spark debate, and inspire new ways of thinking about the future. A speculative design can consist of following components:
1. Creating thought experiments
Speculative design often takes the form of thought-provoking prototypes, scenarios, or concepts that represent hypothetical futures. Designers might create objects, illustrations, or immersive environments that encourage people to reflect on the social, ethical, or cultural implications of emerging technologies, policies, or lifestyles.
2. Shaping public discourse
By presenting "what if" scenarios, speculative design allows people to think through and critique possible future outcomes before they happen. For example, it can question what a world dependent on artificial intelligence might look like, or how societies would handle environmental collapse. This can lead to public discussions and inspire new conversations about what kind of future people want.
3. Inspiring innovation and problem solving
Speculative design projects often push boundaries and challenge norms, sparking new ideas that might not surface in traditional problem-solving processes. The practice encourages thinking outside existing systems and norms, providing a safe space to explore radical concepts that could lead to real innovations or shifts in policy and design.
4. Highlighting unseen implications
Many speculative design projects aim to uncover hidden assumptions or unintended consequences of current trends. For example, by designing speculative "products" that address extreme outcomes of climate change, designers can reveal the unsustainability of certain behaviors, fostering more awareness and reflection.
Examples of speculative design projects:
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Critical artifacts: Physical or digital objects from a hypothetical future (e.g., a pill that provides all daily nutrition, bypassing traditional food systems, as a comment on food security issues).
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Future narratives: Stories, videos, or simulations that immerse people in a potential future scenario (e.g., a world where water scarcity has led to water rationing for different social classes).
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Alternative realities: World-building exercises that imagine new societal systems (e.g., a speculative nation-state where citizens are governed by AI to explore issues of privacy and autonomy).
A tool for visualising and discussing potential futures
Speculative design isn’t intended to predict the future or propose immediate solutions; rather, it helps people visualize the consequences of their actions and beliefs. It’s especially valuable in design fields related to technology, policy-making, urban planning, and sustainability, where the implications of decisions are far-reaching.
A radical proposal
The Universal Basic Nutrient Income (UBNI) concept grounds itself in Sweden's established welfare system, making nutrition a fundamental right. Recognizing nutrition as essential to both individual health and environmental stewardship, UBNI offers Sweden a forward-thinking model to address dietary inequality, strengthen local food systems, and reduce reliance on unstable imports, all while mitigating the financial risks for producers transitioning to sustainable practices.
Relieving financial barriers to sustainable diets
By providing every citizen with a guaranteed allowance specifically for purchasing nutrient-rich, sustainably produced food, UBNI empowers individuals to make healthier dietary choices without the burden of financial constraints. This allowance would be designed to ensure that all Swedes, regardless of income level, have the means to access fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other nutrient-dense foods. As a result, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between socioeconomic status and health outcomes, addressing the alarming rise in diet-related diseases across various demographics.
Supporting the transition through established systems
To further simplify the transition to healthier eating, UBNI could partner with local farms and food producers to create subscription-based meal kits that align with sustainable practices. These kits would include all the necessary ingredients for a week’s worth of meals, along with easy-to-follow recipes. This model encourages individuals to try new foods and cooking techniques while ensuring they have access to fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Promote sustainable food production
Furthermore, UBNI would promote a thriving sustainable food production. With guaranteed funding for sustainable foods, consumers would increasingly support local farmers and producers who engage in eco-friendly practices. This would create a stable market demand for sustainably grown crops, encouraging more producers to adopt regenerative agricultural methods. As a result, farmers would feel more secure in transitioning away from harmful, intensive practices that degrade soil health and diminish the nutrient density of their harvests.
Increasing local resilience and crisis preparedness
The UBNI model also plays a critical role in reducing Sweden’s reliance on imported foods, which are often vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions. By fostering local production and consumption, the initiative would not only enhance food security but also contribute to the resilience of communities against the uncertainties of international markets. Increased support for small-scale farmers and regional food systems would create a more localized food infrastructure, ensuring that communities can meet their own nutritional needs.
A sustainable pathway for the future
In addition, the UBNI model aligns seamlessly with Sweden’s commitment to environmental sustainability. By incentivizing the consumption of locally sourced, nutrient-dense foods, the initiative supports practices that protect biodiversity, enhance soil health, and reduce carbon emissions associated with long-distance food transport. As the demand for sustainably produced foods rises, producers will be motivated to invest in environmentally friendly practices, further reinforcing the cycle of sustainability.
Ultimately, the Universal Basic Nutrient Income represents a transformative approach to food security and public health in Sweden. By prioritizing nutrition as a basic right and creating a robust support system for consumers and producers alike, UBNI has the potential to reshape the nation’s food landscape, fostering a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable future for all.
