Plants as heroes of sustainability: research and exhibitions in Berlin!

Plants as heroes of sustainability: research and exhibitions in Berlin!

On May 14, 2025, the _matter Festival_ at the Humboldt University of Berlin (HU) will enter its next round. This innovative science festival, which has been running since April of this year, aims to shed light on the liveliness and design ability of organic materials and plants as non-human actors. The focus is particularly on the exhibition “Fermenting Textiles”, which opens its doors on May 16, 2025 and puts the spotlight on the role of bacteria and traditional textile dyeing practices. The microbiologist Prof. Dr. Regine Hengge and the anthropologist Dr. Laurence Douny to research traditional dyeing practices in Burkina Faso. At the same time, fundamental research on plants and soil bacteria, which play a central role in the dyeing process, is carried out in the HU microbiology laboratory.

The results of this exciting research are presented in the Art Laboratory Berlin gallery. The opening will take place on May 16, 2025 at 8 p.m., the exhibition will open its doors every Thursday to Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. from May 17 to July 6, 2025. The press preview begins on the morning of opening day at 11 a.m.

Plants as the key to sustainability

In a time when sustainability is becoming more and more important, plants are considered an essential symbol and tool. They play a crucial role in shaping a sustainable future. Plants are renewable resources that not only bind CO2 but also produce oxygen. Their efficient use of resources and ability to adapt to environmental conditions are essential in the fight against climate change innomatlife.de explained.

Edible plants in particular play a key role. They are easy to grow and require significantly fewer resources than animal products. Cultivation in urban areas increases local food supplies and reduces dependence on long supply chains. In addition, plants contribute to the preservation of biodiversity, stabilize ecosystems and provide habitat and food for numerous animal species.

Events to promote plant knowledge

As part of the festival, the “Vegetal Companions” event series in the Späth Arboretum complements the offering. This series, which began on May 13, 2025 and runs until June 15, 2025, addresses plants as non-human actors and their cultural perception. The installation “Planted Archives: Traces of Environmental History” also opened on May 13th and provides insights into environmental history, while workshops such as “Embark” on circular materials research on May 17th and “Arboreal Knowledge” take place on June 5th and 6th.

How plantresearch.de emphasizes, understanding sustainable development in agriculture is of central importance. With a growing population, we are faced with the challenge of meeting food needs while protecting the environment and biodiversity. The entire agricultural sector, which is responsible for over 10% of greenhouse gas emissions in Germany, urgently needs to be made more sustainable.

The events and exhibitions mentioned during the _matter Festival_ are not only a contribution to this important discussion, but also an invitation to the public to actively engage with the topics of sustainability and the role of plants.