Ying Yu

In Chinese internet slang, the phrase “so poor I have to eat dirt” humorously captures the self-deprecating despair of financial hardship after overspending. Yet, as global challenges like climate change, land degradation, and food system instability intensify, this ironic expression takes on an unsettling reality. With rising food production costs and dwindling ecological resources, could we one day bypass plants entirely and extract nutrients directly from soil? As environmental deterioration accelerates, how much more strain can our planet’s land endure? Are we hurtling toward a “de-naturalized” future where food is divorced from nature?

This project challenges public perceptions of food and soil ecology through a thought-provoking book and experimental food designs. By blending critical reflection with tangible creations, it prompts audiences to confront humanity’s unsustainable consumption patterns and our increasingly fragile relationship with natural systems.