Synecoculture Principles Learning Kit

The principles of Synecoculture are connected to the workings of life on earth that has existed for billions of years. Viewed from the earth's history, the emergence of mankind is a very recent event that occurred well after the ecosystem was developed. The agriculture that humans started approximately 10,000 years ago has led to the development of technology that efficiently grows only plants that are seen as useful. However, such attempts to control the environment with substances brought in from elsewhere, such as fertilizers and pesticides, have gradually shifted the balance of the ecosystem, and many adverse effects have arisen. Therefore, the idea behind Synecoculture farming is to return to the power of life on earth and restore the ecosystem from the soil.

The "Syneco Portal : Synecoculture Principles Learning Kit" is a first-hand experience kit being developed to help people learn about this mechanism through experimenting with it on a planter scale. It was planned and designed under the supervision of Masatoshi Funabashi, Senior Researcher at Sony CSL, with Kei Fukuda, independent designer as well as  Navigator at Synecoculture Association, and Yoko Honjo of RAG at Sony CSL. A handbook to learn how to create and to learn about the augmented ecosystems is also available for free download.

By following the handbook, anyone can actually create a Syneco planter (named “Syneco Portal”), where a variety of plants are mixed in high density. The resulting planter has the potential to become a an entryway to learn and experience "the functioning of ecosystem cycles" in the raw, and to lead to continuous learning.

Synecoculture Principles Learning Kit Handbook ：

English PDF French PDF  (2023.12 Ver.0.51) (New! Ver.0.5) Japanese PDF (2023.9 ver.0.5)

Please contact Synecoculture Association (info@synecoculture.org)if you are interested in translating this document to other languages. Your cooperation is highly appreciated.

Demonstration Experiment at Roppongi Hills

Sony CSL has started a demonstration experiment related to Synecoculture farming on the rooftop garden of Roppongi Hills in November, 2019.
In this experiment, we have introduced Synecoculture farming methods and implemented an augmented ecosystem on the rooftop of the building. We have installed five special planters with three different patterns of soil. More than 100 kinds of different plant species, mainly vegetables, fruits and herbs, are placed in the planters. More than 200 kinds of useful plants were planted in the small field on the same rooftop. We have been making observations on the cooperative effects of the plants. [Press Release]

 
＜Overview＞

• Period：November, 2019 ~ 
• Venue：Roppongi Hills, Tokyo
• Organized by：Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc.
• Supported by：Mori Building Co., Ltd
          Synecoculture Association

Venue of the experiment

Exhibition at Sony Ginza Park

From July 24 to August 10, 2021, the Sony CSL research exhibition "Research on the Future of Mankind" was held at Sony Ginza Park, and four Syneco Portals were displayed to introduce the research of Dr. Funabashi. Since the planters were exhibited indoors, there were concerns that the plants would shrivel up due to lack of ventilation and sunlight, and two planters were installed outdoors so that they could be exchanged at anytime. Eventually, the outdoor Syneco Portals served as a guide to the exhibition.

• Period: July 24 (Sat) ~ August 10 (Tue), 2021
• Hours: 11:00 ~ 19:00
• Place: Ginza Sony Park (PARK B2 - B4 / B2 - 4F)

Syneco Portals displayed at the Sony Ginza Park

# “Synecoculture” is a trademark of Sony Corporation. 
#  Please see here on the details of the Trademark Usage.