Plant Science is Beautiful
As a company founded in Scotland, we always welcome the opportunity to collaborate with fellow Scottish businesses – particularly when they share similar environmental values to our own. So, when the possibility of working with Crùbag and The James Hutton Institute on a crop science-inspired range of scarves popped up, we were all ears.
Alongside Crùbag and our partners at the James Hutton Institute, we’ve created a range of scarves that will be given out to attendees of IGS’ demonstration facility at COP28. These were designed by Crùbag, drawing inspiration from the innovative crop science research conducted by both the James Hutton Institute and IGS.
Known as ‘Plant Science is Beautiful’, the collection covers four key themes:
Feeding the world
Food security is at the core of IGS. We’re focussed on empowering growers and bolstering food supply chains worldwide, so it made sense to make this an integral part of the designs. After speaking to both IGS and the James Hutton Institute, part of Crùbag’s inspiration for the designs came through the yellow dye found when dissecting potato tubers.
Plant science and cell structure
The second theme takes inspiration from one of IGS’ main pillars – plant science. The designs focus on the intricacies of basil leaves and the network of cell structures, both of which are crucial for gas exchange and photosynthesis. ‘Plant Science is Beautiful’ also takes inspiration from the cell structure found within the leaves with Capsella seeds (commonly known as ‘shepherd’s purse’).
Innovation
Without innovation, there would be no IGS, so it was only natural that this spirit made up the third of the themes. The designs incorporate bright images, blended with the radiant glow of LED lights from IGS Growth Towers. This gives a nod to the innovative spirit of our technology, alongside a reminder of the potential for creativity when new technologies interact with the natural world.
Climate change
Last – but by no means least – is the theme of climate change. The designs pay homage to our work with Forestry and Land Scotland, capturing the essence of young spruce seedlings and the importance of rewilding natural landscapes. Reducing global emissions is central to COP, and we’re happy to be able to mark this in ‘Plant Science is Beautiful’, through Crùbag’s designs.
Project partners
IGS
IGS develops cutting-edge vertical farming technology for premium plants grown with precision at any time of year, anywhere in the world. Through continuous innovation, brilliantly simple design, and a refusal to accept conventional thinking, IGS’ core mission is to shape the future of food production. IGS offers innovative, scalable solutions to tackle climate change and food security worldwide.
Crùbag
Crùbag is an ocean-focused, interdisciplinary textile design studio and materials innovation lab based in Scotland. They merge art and science, collaborating with marine scientists and research institutions to create artful textile collections.
The James Hutton Institute
The JHI is a world-class research institution for the sustainable management of land, crops, and natural resources that support communities. They engage in new ways of working across disciplines, collaborating with business, policy, and society. Their core mission is to deliver greater food and environmental security through science, connecting land and people through creativity and innovation, and advancing knowledge with objectivity, independence, and transparency.
