The theme of BIOFACH 2026 is “Growing Tomorrow: Young Voices, Bold Visions”. What is your vision for the future?
My vision for the future is not some ideal state that we will eventually reach and then live in a land of milk and honey. My vision for the future is that we decide today that one of the most radical things of our time – which we can do and, in my view, must do – is to look where things are not easy, but where there is light. To where people are fighting back against adversity, where strength and support are needed, where we are needed. In other words, for me, a vision is more a kind of lived practice than a state of being.
What needs to happen to ensure that we can continue to feed the world’s population in the future?
It is a disaster right now. We are destroying our planet and we are destroying our bodies – at a cost that nobody can afford. That is not a bill we can pay. And those who want to change things are even criticised: they are told we cannot afford it and that they should just take a look at the world. That is why, at this time, I would say first and foremost that it is absolutely crucial not to let ourselves be deterred from taking a close look.
What advice would you give to young people who want to get involved but feel overwhelmed by the current situation?
One thing that has helped me a great deal, and still does, is the realisation that my most important allies are usually the people around me. People who are of a similar age and in a similar situation. We young people are often told who we should try to please. At the end of an event, everyone queues up to shake a politician’s hand. But we forget that the people around us are actually everything we need. The people who understand you, the people with whom you can build something together and who ultimately have great power when they come together.
