Regenerative Innovation: Driving the Transition to the Symbiocene
In Part 1 we explored the nature of the transition from the Anthropocene to the Symbiocene. Here in Part 2 we delve into what, at its core, will drive that transition.
You are probably familiar with the butterfly metaphor that is commonly used to describe the process of transformation. The metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly has always been fascinating to me, one of nature’s genuine miracles.
The metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly occurs in four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult (butterfly).
The journey begins with an egg hatching into a caterpillar. The caterpillar’s primary role is to eat and grow. As the caterpillar grows, it consumes vast amounts of foliage, storing energy for the upcoming transformation. One can compare the greedy caterpillar stage to the Anthropocene economy, predicated upon infinite economic growth on a planet with finite resources.
Upon reaching the final larval stage, the caterpillar forms a pupa, encasing itself in a chrysalis. In this protective cocoon, made from silk produced by the caterpillar itself, the most dramatic changes occur. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar’s tissues undergo histolysis, essentially breaking down into a nutrient-rich soup. The chrysalis stage can…
