From a sustainability perspective, it is important to develop
regenerative agriculture. Currently, the access to non-pollutant
transportation and machines is limited. Based on this, the idea of
CAKE Kibb was born. The first part of the name comes from a
collaboration with CAKE, a company that manufactures electric
motorcycles. The word Kibb means ox in Gutniska, a dialect from the
Swedish island Gotland. The name is meant to represent the strength
of the vehicle as well as the limited mark an animal has on nature,
irrelevant of its size.
"Agriculture is one of the industries that contributes the most
to greenhouse emissions and therefore it could slowly lead to its
own demise unless new solutions for regenerative farming can be
reached", says Fanny who grew up on a farm herself.
Fanny Jonsson
presenting CAKE Kibb at the UID22 Degree Show.
The healing power of the earth must be harnessed to regenerate
healthy growth. For example, it is important to nurture the soil
long-term to maximize crop diversity. When running a farm, it is
also crucial to be able to move freely across the land. Livestock
need to be moved regularly so that the grass and crop are disturbed
as little as possible.
A vehicle with special requirements
Many things on a farm are monitored remotely nowadays, and
therefore the need for smaller, more efficient vehicles, has
increased. CAKE Kibb is a small electrical all-terrain vehicle
(ATV). It features tires that automatically adapt to the ground by
increasing and decreasing air pressure. This means that it is
gentle on the ground, a key demand in regenerative agriculture.
"It is equipped with soil savers - a tire that will inflate and
deflate and be able to regulate the tread to be as gentle as
possible in any location", Fanny says when presenting the project
at the UID22 event.
The CAKE Kibb soil saver tires, designed to
move lightly across the varying farm landscapes.
The modularity of the ATV was an important aspect throughout the
design. The flexible characteristics allow Kibb to tackle various
tasks that requires different equipment at a ranch or farm, which
could be anything from a plough and winch to watering tanks. The
Kibb can then, with its level of autonomy, drive around and do many
of these tasks by itself.
Holistic approach on sustainability
The Kibb concept employs a holistic approach to material
choices, by utilizing what can already be found in the countryside.
Its tires are made from dandelions which are widespread across
Scandinavia and its plastics are made from linseed plants grown
locally in Sweden. Aluminium is the main material used for the main
frame as well as other details on the ATV. As a material, aluminium
is a sustainable choice due to its recyclability without material
degradation through multiple lifecycles.
A lot of the work on a farm requires heavy fossil-driven
machinery, but on smaller regenerative ranches there is a possible
way of introducing a fossil-free solution that can cover many of
the needs. The use of fossil-driven solutions could be viewed as
contradictory to long term farming objectives, since the biggest
focus on a farm is to take care of the animals and their
surroundings, and in order to do that many farmers are today using
vehicles that disturb and destroy its surroundings.
"With this project I really think that design can inspire
agriculture to develop towards more sustainable solutions."
This is not the first time Fanny is getting up on stage to
present a graduation project of her own. The fact is, she also got
her bachelor's degree at Umeå Institute of Design, graduating in
2019.
"This is my second time attending the Design Talks & Degree
Show. I graduated from my bachelor's degree just before the
outbreak of the pandemic and the show had to go digital", Fanny
says and continues.
"Even though it is my second time, presenting my project still
makes me nervous whilst, at the same time, it is very rewarding to
connect with all these amazing people."
A wonderful experience
Fanny describes her personal journey within the school as a
wonderful experience with a large and strong community.
"I think this school is fantastic. I see many people here today
who graduated several years ago. It really says it all - it is such
a wonderful community".
At Umeå Institute of Design, students from all over the world
come together and work as a team. It gives students different
perspectives and contributes to their personal growth.
"For me, getting to know people from different countries and
places is what I learn the most from. Also, Umeå as a city is
great. I feel that there is an overall appreciation for innovation
and sustainability which of course is something I value. I would
definitely choose this school all over again if I could!"
