The Journey of a Grain of Rice

What would you like to discover?

THE WORLD MAP OF RICE

One of the most everyday foods in the world is also the lead character in a huge trading network. Millions of tonnes of rice cross borders every year, connecting farms, ports, sea routes and markets thousands of kilometres apart.

AROUND THE WORLD WITH A SMARTPHONE

A mobile phone may look like a single object. But behind the screen, camera and battery lies an industrial network connecting materials, components, factories, suppliers and logistics hubs across the globe.

THE CONTAINER THAT LEARNED TO TELL ITS STORY

Over the course of weeks, a container passes through ports, terminals, ships, depots, and roads. Knowing its location tells only part of the story. The other question is far more interesting: what happened to it along the way?

THE TOMATO THAT RACES AGAINST THE CLOCK

A tomato is still alive after being harvested. It breathes, loses water, produces ethylene and continues to ripen during transport. That's why preserving it is not simply about keeping it as cold as possible.

HOW DO WE SHIP THIS?

There are goods that require a complete rethink of how they are transported. When a piece measures over a hundred meters, weighs tons, or exceeds standard dimensions, the journey begins long before the vehicle actually sets off.

A CAR WITH A BOARDING PASS

A 1.5-million-euro car, a race on the other side of the Atlantic, and a schedule that allowed for no further delays. In certain operations, the choice of aircraft has less to do with distance than with the cost of arriving late.

Everything around us has a history before reaching us.

A grain of rice, a tomato, a mobile phone, or an industrial part can travel thousands of kilometers before reaching its destination. Behind every journey lie routes, technologies, infrastructure, and decisions that usually remain out of sight.