Fernando Laposse has won the inaugural Future Food Design Award for his corn husk project 'Totomoxtle.' Laposse collaborated with Mexican farmers to develop new earning models for local strains of corn that result in less residual waste while generating a lucrative 'bycatch' for local farmers.
Totomoxtle derives its inspiration from the relationship between Mexico and corn, by developing a new material that displays the natural, colourful diversity of corn. The process is actually quite simple: corn husks are flattened and stuck together, which allows the product to be cut into ready-to-use tiles for use as a fine veneer for flooring or marquetry. Totomoxtle is not only a new, sustainable material; through this project, Laposse hopes to engender greater awareness for the uncertain future of farmers and their traditional harvesting methods in a modern world.
