Rare Endophyte Collectors Club

Rare Endophyte Collectors Club
Name	Rare Edophyte Collectors Club
Location	De Ruimte
Date	2017/08/08-2017/08/09
Time	10:00-18:00
PeopleOrganisations	The Center for Genomic Gastronomy
Type	HDSA2017
Web	Yes
Print	No

At the Rare Endophyte Collectors Club (RECC) The Center for Genomic Gastronomy invited biological hobbyists to meet and identify, discover, discuss and trade information about new, rare and hard to access microorganisms. The race went on: who will get to unlock, collect and share the secrets of the microbiome era?

Members of the Rare Endophyte Collectors Club will get hands-on experience setting up experiments and learning the DIY Biology methods needed to cultivate and isolate the microorganisms that live inside of plants (i.e. endophytes). We will also conduct field visits to collect plant samples and debate the use of endophytes as biopesticides as well as the ethical implications of biohacking for agriculture, the commercialization of science and the privatization of the commons. What other forms can our microbial future take?: A Lending library? An Internet of Plants? A Civilian Conservation Corps for Microbial Life?

For the H&D Summer Academy RECC came as a 2 day lab where participants learned how to collect agricultural plant samples (leaf, roots, etc.) and plate, grow, isolate and identify the microorganisms that grow inside the plants (Endophytes). The goal of the lab was to discover an entirely new organism and to take this DIY Bio research forward and to prototype its promise and limitations. Applied endophyte research is being promoted as a possible replacement for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In addition to learning basic biological lab techniques, we have been able to imagine different food futures and various registers and modes of biohacking.

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