Science, Art, and Nature Intersect at Aniene Festival with “Green Sounds”: Unveiling the Hidden Voice of Plants

Rome, Italy

On July 22, the Aniene Festival has been the framework for “Green Sounds: Science and Art in Plant Music,” a workshop and performance led by Carmelo Cannarella (CNR-IBBA – Institute of Biology and Agrarian Biotechnology). The innovative event guided the audience through a multidisciplinary journey exploring phytoacoustics and the sonification of natural environments.

The event examined both the ecological and symbolic roles of the plant kingdom—viewing plants not merely as living organisms, but as biological conduits that bridge the underground, the Earth’s surface, and the sky, linking the elements of earth, water, and air. By using specific technologies and plant electrophysiology adopted at the PLANTES laboratory (Phytoacoustics Lab and Natural Terrestrial Environments Sounds) at the CNR-IBBA – Institute of Biology and Agrarian Biotechnology (Montelibretti, Rome) carried out in collaboration with Valerio Giorgio Muzzini (CNR-IBBA), the bioelectric variations and biological processes of plants were translated into real-time soundscapes and musical textures, transforming natural signals into an immersive listening experience.

By adopting scientific approaches and artistic exploration, the performance demonstrated how the dialogue between science and music can offer new perspectives on plant sensitivity and our deep connection with the ecosystem. In this context, art and science can converge also highlight some of the SPIN-FERT project central topics by simultaneously providing artistic mediums and innovative approaches and tools for bioelectrical monitoring to communicate the positive impact of sustainable agricultural practices and biostimulation on plant physiology.

About Aniene Festival

The Aniene Festival is a prominent cultural event in Rome that combines live music, artistic performances, talks, and community gatherings within the protected nature reserve of the Aniene Valley. The festival focuses on local heritage, environmental sustainability, and the integration of diverse forms of creative expression.

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