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Accepted manuscript

“How can SCOBY be grown from scratch?”: Growing Materials from Situated Ecologies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 June 2026

E. Sicher*
Affiliation:
Institut für Materialdesign (IMD), Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach am Main, Germany. Matters of Activity Cluster of Excellence, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany.
*
Author for correspondence. Email: emma.sicher@gmail.com
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Abstract

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Biofabrication practices in Biodesign commonly rely on preformed cultures, standardized strains, and established protocols, often without critically addressing their provenance and ecological implications. This tension is particularly evident in SCOBY cultivation, where microbial cultures are frequently exchanged as fragments with uncertain origin. In response, and informed by Regenerative Ecologies frameworks, that advocate for ecological literacy and situated engagement with living systems, this contribution addresses how SCOBY can be grown ‘from scratch’. The investigation draws on a doctoral study engaging with acetic fermentation practices in Thailand and Germany, including apprenticeships, foraging, and solo experimentation with vernacular techniques. These experiences demonstrated that SCOBY can emerge from situated ecologies, highlighting the adaptive and relational nature of this microbial process. Building on these insights, this paper introduces an open-source method enabling practitioners to grow SCOBYs through engagement with situated plants and microbes. From these insights, Situated Growing Design is proposed as an emerging trajectory and practical approach for translating regenerative aspirations into growing material practices that foster closer engagements with bioregional configurations.

Information

Type
Full Paper: Biodesign Conference
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press