Curious about what the future holds when innovation meets sustainable living? In this episode of Harvest Series, visionary entrepreneur Ralph Horat reveals how his Next Generation Village Project is set to transform Switzerland into a groundbreaking hub of technology and ecological advancement. Hosted by Rose Claverie, Ralph’s conversation unpacks his ambitious plans for a 'Village of the Future'—a living lab where technology and community converge. Tune in to see how Ralph's visionary ideas could reshape our world and spark a new era of societal evolution.

Show Notes:

[2:00] - Ralph delves into the evolving landscape of technology's impact on urban development. He emphasizes that technologies serve as tools to empower communities, not as isolated endpoints.

[4:00] - Cosmo-localism is explored—an approach that combines localized practices within a collaborative network, emphasizing knowledge and data sharing.

[5:30] - Ralph sheds light on the concept of an ecological currency, envisioning a system where each product carries an ecological price, emphasizing sustainability.

[7:21] - Exploring liquid democracy, Ralph discusses alternate voting systems and the potential for reorganizing democratic processes.

[9:10] - Examining the drawbacks of technology, Ralph outlines concerns regarding overreliance on tech within cities and highlights an example of decentralized technology.

[11:00] - The genesis of the Next Generation Village project is unveiled, emphasizing its critical size requirement of 12 to 15 hectares.

[15:20] - Ralph discusses the envisioned inhabitants of the village, envisioning a diverse community encompassing various skill sets, from farming to corporate entities.

[16:50] - Addressing challenges in creating the Village of the Future, Ralph highlights funding as a significant challenge, despite recent investor interest.

[20:25] - Ralph identifies similar projects and inspirational endeavors aligned with the goals of the Next Generation Village.

[22:50] - Exploring Ralph's journey from banking to his visionary project, he emphasizes his fascination with systemic workings as a pivotal factor in his transition.

[25:38] - Ralph's childhood fascination with science fiction emerges as a key inspiration for his imaginative vision of the future.

[27:17] - In the Harvest of the Day segment, Ralph shares insights on simple actions that could contribute to a better world, reflecting his visionary perspective.

Ralph's IG account : @ralphhorat and the website Next Gen Village

You can follow us on Instagram at @HarvestSeries or @rose.claverie for updates.

Watch our podcast episodes and speaker sessions on YouTube: Harvest Series.

Credits:

• Sound editing by: @lesbellesfrequences
• Technicians in Kaplankaya: Joel Moriasi
• Music by: Chambord
• Artwork by: Davide d'Antonio

Harvest Series is produced in partnership with Athena Advisers and Capital Partners

Harvest Series Founders: Burak Öymen and Roman Carel