# Post-Disaster Meal Options Julia Schwarz's ' Unseen Edible' Boasts Nutritious Lichen Food By Kalin Ned | Published 2018-10-22 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lichen-food References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2018/10/22/julia-schwarz-unseen-edible-food-lichen-vienna-design-week/) & [schwarzjulia](https://schwarzjulia.com/) Lichen food is at the heart of the 'Unseen Edible' project by Julia Schwarz who recently graduated from the [University of Applied Arts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/avocado-alternative) in Vienna. Lichen is a [symbiosis between a fungus and algae](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/optimized-foods-mycocarrier) or cyanobacteria. The species is found growing on vegetation, tree bark and rocks. The benefits of the multi-organism extend to the fact that it can grow in harsh climates and is fairly nutritious, potentially providing sustenance for humans through onsets of [food shortage, an apocalypse](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-last-of-us-x-alice-mushroom) or even on Mars. Julia Schwarz debuts the lichen food — from pasta and pesto to butter and bread, at Vienna Design Week, where individuals had the opportunity to taste the innovative meals. With 20,000 species and a growth on about six percent of the Earth, lichen food might prove a worthwhile investment. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.0/10 - Popularity: 63% | Activity: 78% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Lichen Food:** Harnessing the nutritional potential of lichen for sustainable and alternative food sources. - **Food Innovation:** Exploring unconventional ingredients and methods to create nutritious and sustainable meals. - **Apocalypse Food:** Developing food options that can sustain humans during food shortages or catastrophic events. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Food and Beverage:** Exploring new ingredients and methods to create innovative food products. - **Agriculture:** Investigating the cultivation and sustainable production of lichen for food purposes. - **Design:** Creating functional and aesthetically pleasing food products that incorporate lichen as a key ingredient. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Vegan Fungi Protein Desserts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegan-fungi-protein.md) - [Nutrient-Dense Fungi Protein Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fungi-protein.md) - [Future-Facing Food Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/future-food-menu.md) - [Mushroom-Inspired Dining Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grybova-hata.md) - [Mycelium-Based Chicken Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/7030-foodtech.md) - [Flame-Retardent Mycelium Pods](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/living-with-wildfire.md) - [Mushroom-Derived Hybrid Meats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mush-foods.md) - [Kelp-Based Vegan Meatballs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seaweedish-meatballs.md) - [Post-Apocalyptic Mushroom Chocolates](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-last-of-us-x-alice-mushroom.md)