A group of schoolchildren in Londonderry has buried a time capsule under the site of a new urban farm, filled with their thoughts on what people will eat in the future. But their predictions—featuring lab-grown meat, 3D-printed meals, and even insects—raise questions about whether these ideas are truly their own or a reflection of a wider push toward engineered food systems.

The pupils from Bready Jubilee Primary School placed the capsule in the foundations of the Acorn Farm Project’s 20m-high dome at St Columb’s Park in the city’s Waterside area. Alongside vegetable seeds and coins, the children included written accounts of their current diets and what they believe future generations will eat.

‘We All Will Be Eating Bugs’

Nine-year-old Wyatt told BBC News NI he was excited to be involved but believes the way we eat will change dramatically. “Food in the future may be 3D-printed food and I think it will be meat made in a lab,” he said. “I hope there will still be burgers, but I think we all will be eating bugs in the future.”

Scarlett, 10, made a similar prediction, telling the BBC: “In 200 years’ time, I think people will be eating bugs for protein and 3D-printed food, which I think is amazing. They will be eating seaweed as well and lab-grown meat. I’ve never had seaweed myself, but I wouldn’t mind trying it.”

Another pupil, Rachel, suggested seaweed could even replace familiar foods. “My favourite food is chicken nuggets, but I don’t think we will have that in the future,” she said. “I think seaweed pizza will be tasty.”

While the children’s comments reflect a growing narrative around sustainable food, some might question whether their views are influenced by wider efforts to normalize alternatives to traditional farming and diets.

A Carefully Curated Future?

The £6.2 million Acorn Farm Project, funded in part by the UK Government’s Levelling Up initiative, aims to promote sustainability through urban farming, education, and local food production.

Derry and Strabane Mayor Lilian Seenoi-Barr, who attended the time capsule burial, said in an interview with the BBC: “There is no doubt that we are faced with many challenges when it comes to climate. But the message we leave for future generations in our time capsule today is a hopeful one that demonstrates our commitment to changing things for the better.”

Principal David Bogle echoed this sentiment, saying his students had learned “how we can all play a role in ensuring our environment can support vital food sources in a responsible and sustainable way.”

But with billions being invested globally in lab-grown meat, insect farming, and synthetic food production, the children’s futuristic vision of food may not be just speculation—it could be a glimpse into a world where these alternatives are no longer optional.

Echoes of the Past

The burial of the time capsule comes a decade after another was discovered in Derry, dating back to 1839. Unearthed during an excavation at Brooke Park, it contained coins and a scroll—its message faded but still a link to the past.

When the Acorn Farm capsule is opened centuries from now, will future generations see these children’s words as innocent predictions, or as evidence of a shift in food production that had already been set in motion?

With Acorn Farm positioned as a center for food education, sustainability, and climate-conscious agriculture, one thing is clear—what we eat is changing, and the next generation is already preparing for it.

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