Nature-Based Innovation: What if we reimagined innovation through nature's lens?
In a world where technology often dominates the conversation around progress, are we overlooking the most efficient and sustainable solutions nature has already perfected?
“After 3.8 billion years of research and development, failures are fossils, and what surrounds us is the secret to survival.”
Janine M. Benyus, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature
Reframing Innovation
When you think of innovation, what emerges?
In modern industrial societies, the concept of innovation is frequently synonymous with high-tech industry's technological advancements. This dominant narrative emphasises speed, efficiency, and improvement, often promoting a linear view of what innovation looks like, overlooking diverse and equally valuable forms of ingenuity. However, in light of the ongoing climate crisis, where quick technological fixes are commonly proposed as solutions, it becomes crucial to reassess this perspective.
Techno-solutionism, a concept critiqued by thinkers like Evgeny Morozov, tends to oversimplify complex global challenges by suggesting that any problem can be resolved with the right technological application. This approach often neglects the intricate realities of ecological systems and the broader impacts of such interventions. For instance, the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is often touted as a silver bullet for climate change. This narrative suggests that we can continue burning fossil fuels and rely on CCS to mitigate the resulting emissions, but a question arises: "trees or carbon?" This approach often overlooks the importance of preserving natural ecosystems and the long-term sustainability of such technological interventions. As we face increasing ecological challenges, the question becomes not only how to mitigate damage but also how to innovate in ways that align with the natural world rather than attempt to dominate it.
The Greek term "teknos" offers a broader, more holistic perspective on technology, recognising not only advanced machinery and digital tools but also the creativity and resourcefulness found in vernacular structures, traditional practices, and nature-based solutions. Unfortunately, since the Industrial Revolution, the discourse surrounding technology has become increasingly narrow, focusing predominantly on material and mechanical aspects while often disregarding nature as a source of inspiration and innovation. This narrow focus limits our ability to think creatively about how we can leverage nature’s designs in addressing contemporary challenges.
In light of the ongoing climate crisis, where quick technological fixes are commonly proposed as solutions, it becomes crucial to reassess this perspective.
Sagaing Region, Myanmar
Billions of Years of R&D
Contrary to this techno-centric view, nature itself, through billions of years of evolution, trial, and error, has developed sophisticated ecosystems and processes that have long inspired scientists, architects, and designers.
Such natural systems challenge the anthropocentric view that places humanity as the highest form of intelligence, urging us to consider the embedded wisdom found in nature. For instance, slime moulds, like Physarum polycephalum, demonstrate remarkable problem-solving abilities, such as navigating mazes and optimizing nutrient networks, without a brain or a central nervous system. Researchers have leveraged this capability to draw insights for human applications. For example, a team at the University of Toronto developed a computer model of Physarum polycephalum to design efficient, resilient networks. Their 'virtual slime mold' was tasked with creating a network for the Toronto subway system and proved to be 40% less susceptible to disruption compared to the actual network.
Similarly, in 2010, researchers used slime mould to replicate the Tokyo subway system, revealing that the organism could naturally optimise the network for efficiency and resilience. These studies highlight how slime moulds’ efficient organic structures can inspire more robust urban planning solutions, underscoring that these simple organisms, shaped by millions of years of evolution, can solve complex problems in ways that sometimes surpass human-designed systems. Their success in these complex tasks offers a powerful example of more-than-human intelligence in our world’s ecosystems. This biological computer, as it has been described, emphasises that there is much to learn from nature’s own research and development, which spans billions of years.
Indigenous philosophies further illustrate alternative approaches to innovation. For example, the seventh-generation principle emphasises long-term sustainability and harmony with natural ecosystems, advocating for a shift from human-centric designs to ecocentric worldviews that recognise humans as part of an interconnected web of life. Seven-generation stewardship is the idea that people today should live and work in ways that respect people living three generations back, and will benefit future ancestors three generations from now. This principle and similar indigenous practices underscore the importance of maintaining ecological balances and learning from the cyclical and relational nature of our environment.
The seventh generation principle emphasises long-term sustainability and harmony with natural ecosystems, advocating for a shift from human-centric designs to ecocentric worldviews that recognise humans as part of an interconnected web of life.
Photo taken in Mesa Verde National Park, United States by Alec Krum
Indigenous Innovation
Indigenous innovation represents the integration of traditional ecological knowledge with local materials and methods to create sustainable, resilient communities that work in harmony with the natural environment.
These technologies, deeply rooted in Indigenous cultures, are built on an intimate understanding of local ecosystems, enabling the development of solutions that are both culturally relevant and environmentally sound. Such innovations include architecture that naturally regulates climate, agricultural practices that enhance soil health, and water management systems that sustain both human and ecological communities.
Indigenous ways of ‘placemaking’ emphasise a symbiotic relationship between the community and its environment, crafting spaces that are not only functional but also sustainable and meaningful. The built environment in Indigenous communities is designed with a deep respect for natural resources, using materials and techniques that minimise environmental impact while enhancing the area’s ecological balance. This approach contrasts sharply with conventional development practices, which often seek to conquer and control nature in the name of progress and impose on the environment without integrating local ecological knowledge.
Indigenous communities occupy 22% of the Earth’s land area and protect 80% of the world’s biodiversity.
While modern societies have often sought to conquer and control nature in the name of progress, indigenous cultures have pursued a radically different approach, working with nature to foster mutual benefit and sustainability. This fundamental difference in perspective highlights a contrast in values: where modern approaches typically prioritise immediate gains and control over natural resources, indigenous practices are rooted in long-term sustainability and coexistence with the environment.
Julia Watson coined the term “Lo-TEK” to describe this integration of traditional ecological knowledge into modern sustainability practices. Her research highlights how Indigenous communities worldwide have pioneered solutions that are in harmony with nature, offering viable alternatives to high-tech, resource-intensive methods. Indigenous technologies not only address critical issues such as climate change, food security, and environmental degradation but also promote biodiversity, mitigate flooding, sequester carbon, and purify water—all through solutions entirely devised by humans. Through case studies such as the Jingkieng Dieng Jri Living Root Bridges by the Khasi tribe in North India, the Totora Reed Floating Islands in Peru, and the Bheri Wastewater Aquaculture in Kolkata, Watson demonstrates how traditional methods can coexist with and enhance modern solutions, addressing both environmental and societal needs effectively.
Indigenous communities occupy 22% of the Earth’s land area and protect 80% of the world’s biodiversity. Their land management practices, honed over centuries, have proven highly effective at preserving ecosystems and mitigating environmental degradation. For example, agroforestry techniques used by the Chagga in Tanzania integrate 500 species into a productive agroforestry system, balancing conservation and agricultural needs. Indigenous practices have long emphasised harmonious relationships with nature, supporting conservation efforts and promoting ecological health. These approaches offer valuable insights into sustainable development, emphasising community organisation, resource preservation, and land management techniques that balance societal and environmental needs.
Indigenous communities have long exemplified a collaborative relationship with nature. However, despite their significant contributions, indigenous communities face numerous challenges, including marginalisation and human rights violations. Conservation measures have historically led to the displacement of indigenous peoples, underscoring the need for a more inclusive approach to sustainable development. Nevertheless, research shows that indigenous participation in urban design is gaining momentum, particularly in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. Indigenous placemaking reasserts cultural presence, challenges settler colonialism, and transforms oppressive social structures, providing a pathway for sustainable, inclusive development.
The bias of favouring humans over all living things has contributed to unsustainable practices and ignored nature’s inherent wisdom and guidance. By recognising and learning from other intelligences, such as those embedded in natural systems, we can develop a more complete understanding of the world.
Photo taken in Maras, Peru by Zhifei Zhou
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