Breath of Soil / Memory Nexus Workshop

Poznan, Poland

On October 20th, 2025, students of the University of Arts in Poznań / Studio for Transdisciplinary Projects and Research participated in an interdisciplinary workshop led by Prof. Joanna Hoffmann with the assistance of Mateusz Janik. (FASSF)

The session wove together artistic inquiry and scientific perspectives within the framework of the SPIN-FERT EU project (Mission Soil). The meeting opened with an introduction to SPIN-FERT and its central mission: converting agricultural residues into innovative fertilisers and peat-free growing media. Students were also introduced to the advanced technologies used in SPIN-FERT’s research, which collectively support soil regeneration and circular horticultural solutions.

The workshop then shifted to The Breath of Soil: Memory Nexus, a participatory art-science project that examines scent as a bridge between the hidden life of soil and

The soil sample was prepared by SPIN-FERT scientists from ENOMONDO (IT) & InHORT (PL). For the sample, they used compost produced using an innovative method that combines waste from agri-food industries. In particular, it included three kinds of raw materials: i)residues from wine production (grape pomace – formed of grape skin and seeds), after the extraction of the remaining alcohol (to produce grappa, the famous Italian distillate), ii) the residues from the transformation into preservatives or frozen food of fruits (apple pomace – the peel and exhausted flesh – from the production of juices) and vegetables (tomato or other vegetable peels), and iii) the material obtained from pruning grape vines (shoots and vines). These raw materials, characterised by high quality and free of plastics and other impurities, were processed using an innovative composting technology, enabling them to be transformed into pleasant-smelling compost.  human recollection. Participants were encouraged to reflect on smell as an often-overlooked channel of communication in natural ecosystems and in artistic practice. Discussions focused on how olfactory perception can reveal subtle processes within soil—its microbial vitality, its temporal layers, and its emotional impact.

Students learned that Decay—whether occurring naturally in soil or managed through composting—is the essential process by which decomposing organic matter is transformed into nutrient-rich material that supports plant growth.

The workshop resulted in the Memory Molecule no 07

https://artscience-node.com/memory-molecule-07/

Created by ASN