“Stalins
Revenge”

STALINS REVENGE

The protagonist of this story is Hogweed, the Sosnovsky Hogweed , Cow Parsnip, “Borschevik,” “Stalin's Revenge,” “Lysenkos Revenge,” “Symbol of Neglect” or our Latvian own “Latvānis” (Which sounds like the name – Latvian”) have dozen more of local nicknames. But like John Carpenters' “The Thing” which is described as – “the eponymous "Thing", a parasitic extra-terrestrial life-form that assimilates, then imitates, other organisms and fills people with paranoia” [1] the plant itself is more than a plant. It is a concept which roots dig into not only in newly found soil, but also collective thought. With the ability to withstand years of cutting, burning, poisoning, and sometimes even digging. Shooting in the air up to 5m, with leaves as green and fresh as an everyday salad, wide as 1,5m it overshadows the sun everywhere it grows. On top umbrella-shaped inflorescence, called a compound umbel with light green and white flowers, naively mimicking the edible parsnip. The same beautiful flower is also the main reason for its ability to rapidly spread, transforming into thousands of seeds, flushed by the wind into rivers and roadsides.[2] Outrunning humankinds’ futile attempts to control it. Oblivious of national borders and economic zones it resembles our own “Red scare”[3].


Interestingly, as a child I was not only warned of the toxicity of the plant as it can cause inflammation, pain, even blindness, but it was also raised to my attention that Hogweed does not belong in Latvia but is in fact an invasive species. Indeed, Hogweed was introduced to the region through the Soviet Union as a crop for cattle on collective farms. The plant was chosen for its enormous size , quick growth (3-5cm per day), and rich content. However, it took 15 years of use to realize that the plant was not only unsuitable for livestock but also dangerous for humans.


As it is the only official invasive alien species in Latvia, it has become almost synonymous with this term. Now, provided with government guidelines and instructional videos, people are legally obliged to fight against the spread of this plant. However, the only effective way to deal with the plant is to dig out all its roots, a time-consuming and resource-intensive process that many people, particularly those without a direct connection to wildlife, are unwilling to undertake.


The plant goes by different nicknames, and "Stalin's revenge" [4]might be one of the most notable. While its name and characteristics may vary from region to region, the dangers it poses, and the mistakes made in introducing it are similar. In both the Soviet Union and 19th-century Britain, the plant had been used as a decorative element in gardens before its invasive character was recognized. Now, it is recognized as a threat to the native landscape worldwide, from Canada and the USA to the UK, Scandinavian countries, and Europe.[5]


Unfortunately, there are few institutional solutions, as most would involve either destroying the soil completely or counteracting the plant with other less toxic invasive species.


GERMINATION: THE POLITICS OF INVASIVE SPECIES

Within the realm of conservation discourse, the concept of a species being deemed "natural" within a specific region is predicated upon the absence of human influence. However, it is important to note that the presence of certain species because of natural mechanisms such as bird-mediated seed dispersal, may also be considered as "natural invasions. Seeing that ecosystems are complex and dynamic systems comprising a variety of species, including humans, attempts to eliminate recently introduced species, may be viewed as a manifestation of nostalgia for a perceived pristine landscape rather than being grounded in scientific principles.[6]


Invasive species most commonly are detailed as non-native species that account for ecological or economic damage in their introduced range. These species can have a range of negative impacts on native landscapes, biodiversity, forestry, agriculture, and human health. Historically, humans have furthered the introduction and transmission of non-native species through trade and transportation. In the last 50 years, researchers have observed a development in the range and diversity of these biological invasions, a phenomenon of globalization. There are two key factors in the globalization process. First, the income growth is an important aspect as data shows a clear correlation between the Gross Domestic Product and the abundance of alien floras & faunas, around the world. In most cases, the introduction of trade has played a significant role in the presence of biological invasions. Plants and their seeds are used to trade in the same way as any other goods. Secondly, the technological and logistical improvements, especially after the World War II have accelerated the speed of transporting goods. In a way international trade has opened a new pathway for alien species indirectly. Data shows that invasive species move at the speed of commerce [7].


And while commerce and financial numbers are, for obvious reasons, the most common way of measuring the presence of these global consequences, there is a window for redesigning our relationships with these plants. For example, the London-based artistic duo Cooking Sections observe these rapid ecological and geological changes and the invasive plants in the local ecosystems, through a more artistic sense, as was highlighted in their 2016 Installation-Performance “Devaluing Property Real Estate Agency”, where they, in collaboration with local biodiversity experts and foragers, investigated the construction of value in nature through edible plants. From invasive Japanese knotweed to edible ice cream “that can sink your mortgage”. They emphasize that the dichotomous terms “invasive” and “non-invasive” are subjects of non-scientific taxonomy[8].


In the Baltics, it is hard to talk about invasive species without the focus on the Hogweed, which is the main invasive species in this region. Its infamous character is documented not only in the many oral traditions but also through our present-day government enforcement. Ironically, the pattern if history repeating itself is present, as the government’s policies revolve around the plant, again, this time against its use.[9] And in the middle of the bureaucracy, people and livestock are impacted by the decisions as they passively observe the changes in times.


The appearance of hogweed can occur in abandoned agricultural grasslands, riparian tall-herb communities, roadsides , and waste dumps. These habitats are known to provide abundant resources, disturbances, and lack of regular management.[10]This explains its present-day popularity through the Baltic States and other Post-Soviet countries, which left countless empty farmsteads untended after its collapse.


The hogweed's biggest strengths lie in its ability to reproduce through the seeds . It is a type of plant that only flowers and produces seeds once before it dies, also known as a "one-time bloomer”. The plant's pollen fertilizes its eggs, and this ability to self-pollination is a significant advantage for colonizing species allowing for faster spread and successful colonization through long-distance dispersal.[11] The rapid and uncontrolled spread of hogweed can significantly impact vegetation structure and the abundance of native species, leading to alterations in local habitat structure and exclusion of light, reduction in native tall herb species, and rural Graslands. It can cause riverbank erosion and changes in river substrates that may be detrimental to salmon spawning.[12]


The plant can also pose a risk to human health due to its phototoxic sap that causes photodermatitis when in contact with skin exposed to sunlight. This can restrict access to public spaces and recreational areas and have economic impacts on various sectors.[13] Because the plant is mostly reaching in men-made areas, it almost works in a way of reminding them of their own workings.


The Apiaceae family, which includes the "giant" hogweed, contains a variety of secondary metabolites such as coumarins, essential oils, flavones, acetylenic compounds, and terpenes. These compounds play a role in the plant's defence mechanisms, with furanocoumarins being of particular interest due to their potential harmful effects on human health and their potential use in pharmaceuticals. The hogweed plant has 17 distinct types of furanocoumarins. These compounds have toxic properties that can be enhanced by UV-A light, allowing them to bind to DNA, react with oxygen, bind to proteins, and inhibit enzymes.[14] This special ability that allows the reaction to happen in contact of sunlight, makes the plants sap even more dangerous, leading to situation, where person could be in dangerous contact without realizing it for hours or even days. The proliferation of invasive species, particularly in the context of trade and globalization, has been a persistent issue in various regions worldwide. However, in the Baltic States, the occurrence of invasive species is uncommon. One notable exception though is of course the Giant Hogweed. Due to its native landscape and reproductive capabilities, this species is capable of readily adapting to and overwhelming the specific natural ecosystems around the world, but specifically in post-Soviet countries. Its formidable defensive mechanisms also pose significant risks to human and animal health, which gives the plant sense of urgency, which in different situations and with different plants can be overlooked.


This analogy can be seen as an example that aligns with the principles of generative design, which mimics the rhythmic nature of ecosystems and generates solutions based on input parameters and criteria set in the context of the natural world. The resulting solutions may infiltrate not only the physical environment, but also the realm of technology.


Hogweed in Soviet Union


It almost feels like for every Latvian, there is a story about Hogweeds vicious nature, its introduction as well as the psychical scars it has left. Reflecting on this practice now, and taking into consideration the censorship of soviet times, it feels like a part of a grand oral tradition that took place in and after the Soviet Union, to preserve these myths and Legends of the people and their collective memory. These stories and emotions, which may be because of the inability to write them down or speak about them publicly, through time became more amplified and dramatized.


The concept of belonging is a complex and multifaceted one, particularly for individuals such as me who possess a diverse heritage. Being ¼ Latvian, ¼ Russian, ¼ Jewish, and ¼ Liv, the question of where I truly belong has always been a source of contemplation and introspection. The notion of having historical roots, familiar traditions, and cultural markers of belonging is a crucial aspect in determining one's sense of self and identity. Growing up in a large family, where my grandparents, parents, and even myself have had to repeatedly adapt to new landscapes, environments, and cultural changes has further complicated this notion of belonging. The constant shifting and changing of our surroundings have resulted in a fluid understanding of our cultural identity, one that is constantly evolving and adapting to the present.


The narrative of hogweed is also one told by the same means of domestication and exploitation for functional human needs. Ethnographers and artists often engage in the examination of the significance of non-human species to human cultures. However, animals and plants themselves were not considered, and they were primarily viewed as objects upon which symbolic human culture is projected and performed. The concept of granting agency to non-human entities is relatively new, and quite post-modern in terms of discourse in Posthumanism, for instance. The process of domestication of animal or plant species is typically perceived as an imbalanced relationship characterized by exploitation and the taming of the wild. However, a multi-species ethnography this approach can reveal how non-human entities can also influence and shape human evolution through a co-evolutionary process. As demonstrated by Shipman (2011) in her examination of human history spanning 2.6 million years, human evolution and adaptation are inextricably linked to our intimate relationships and domestication of other species[15].


After World War II and the depletion of all resources, there was an urgent need to restore the economy, as well as its agriculture . To solve the issue of silage, Soviet scientists turned to hogweed, which became a cheap and nutritious solution. The concrete reasons behind these decisions are not clear, but one theory suggests that the leaders of the USSR gained information about North American practices and their use of huge plants with juicy leaves and rich in calories.[16] Based on this information, they went out to look for their own. The discovery of the plant occurred in the state of Georgia. Subsequently, seeds of the species were procured and transported to the territory of Kabardino-Balkaria, where it was subsequently introduced to the Russian Federation. Researchers observed that the species in question commonly referred to as hogweed, possesses a notable level of winter hardiness, demonstrates significant yield potential, and requires low costs for agrotechnical cultivation. It is important to add that similar tests were done across Europe. However, by the middle of the century, European scientists arrived at disappointing conclusions as hogweed did not prove to be a good silage alternative[17] .


A different approach was taken in the USSR, where intensified efforts to promote the use of hogweed as a silage crop continued. This decision was influenced by the views of Trofim Denisovich Lysenko , chief agronomist of the Soviet Union, who claimed that the plant would yield 20 times more silage mass than other options. Even though scientists from Germany and Norway had already conducted experiments with hogweed and reported negative results, Lysenko's views were accepted without question. It should be noted that Lysenko was a figure known for his authoritarian leadership style, as well as his tendency to promote his ideas and suppress dissenting viewpoints, both morally and physically. For example, his opposition to the scientist Sosnovsky, after whom hogweed was named, exemplifies this tendency. [18] Two quite different discourses can be traced, therefore, within the Soviet Union[19] the political agenda endorsed the spread of the plant, while in other parts of Europe and North America it was independent expertise that discouraged the use of the plant.


POLLINATION OF BUREAUCRACY

Progress in technology has rapidly accelerated our ability to redesign the boundaries of control over nature. The desire to shape and control our environment is reflected in both - our societal organization and the usage of natural resources. Creating political systems, laws, and structures to promote prosperity and control of resources. Wealth and progress in the forefront of almost religious devotion, with the ulterior motive of establishing control The example of Hogweed, its spread and the attitude towards it throughout time show that the natural world and the soil we walk on, while quite mouldable, at the end of the day cannot be forced beyond the natural limits of its capacity as well as our conceptualization of the issue.


Governmental organizations have always been a fundamental part of these processes that establish control as a certain standard, be it last names, land surveys, or population registers, must always be in place for the community to be well structured and organised. To implement any standard, information and data are key. These tools have helped to centralize power and wealth for the state. Society and nature are often managed and regulated through simplification and transformation, to increase control and decrease the bureaucracy surrounding it. as the process of standardization has also always an affected agriculture, as it involves radical reorganization and standardization of plant life.


James C. Scott, in his book "Seeing Like a State," argues that state-initiated social designs, which often fail, typically have four elements. The first is the simplification and transformation of society and nature to increase control and ease of administration. This can involve the alteration of social and natural systems, which may be necessary for the preservation of social welfare and liberty but can also be exploited for oppressive purposes. The second element is the ideology of "high modernism," characterized by a belief in science and technological progress, with an emphasis on enhancing production and control of nature. The third element is an authoritarian state with the power to implement these designs, which may be implemented during times of change or crisis. The fourth element is a weak civil society that cannot resist these plans. This creates an opportunity for those in power to implement designs that might be difficult to achieve otherwise.[19]


Looking through the frame of these four elements to the situation in the former Soviet Union we can observe a close resemblance to the environment in consideration. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was formed in 1922 following the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the subsequent civil war. The revolution was driven by a combination of economic collapse, social unrest, and political corruption, as well as the results of the World War I, which exacerbated these problems and weakened the Tsarist regime. The revolution was led by the Bolshevik Party, a Marxist political party that believed in the idea of a socialist revolution. The Bolshevik Revolution was successful in overthrowing the Tsarist regime and establishing a socialist government in Russia, which eventually led to the formation of The USSR building a new state., To build this new state, it had to heavily rely on a planned economy, following the highly centralized plan .[20]


Dr. David Moon, in his book 'The Environmental History of the Soviet Union,' highlights many of the environmental issues that arose during the Soviet period, such as pollution, deforestation, and the infamous nuclear tests and accidents. The focus on industrial and economic growth led to a dismissal of environmental concerns, precisely because of the centralized planning system. [21]


The implementation of collective farming was a significant aspect of the social and political changes that took place in the Soviet Union. The collective farming approach involved the consolidation of small landholdings into larger, collectively owned and operated farms. It was introduced during the process of collectivization was introduced in the 1930s and following the guidelines of high modernism aimed to increase efficiency and productivity by allowing farmers to pool their resources, and share equipment, as well as to facilitate the adoption of modern agricultural techniques.[22] However, the process of collectivization was implemented rapidly and forcibly, leading to disruptions not only in agricultural production, but local cultures and, social environments. While collective farming contributed to the modernization of Soviet agriculture, it was also criticized for hindering the development of independent farmers, promoting centralized control, and eroding rural communities and traditional farming practices. Its impact on the Soviet Union was complex and multifaceted, and it continues to be a subject of debate, particularly in many former Soviet countries.[23] However, it is difficult to fully analyse the negative aspects of collective farming or other timely processes due to the censorship and manipulation of information by the Soviet regime. The regime had significant control over the dissemination of information and was able to write its own version of history, which often excluded or downplayed any criticisms of its policies. This means that much of the evidence and information available about collective farming in the Soviet Union may be biased or incomplete, making it difficult to accurately assess the true impact of this system on the country and its people.

Dr. David Moon, highlights in his book 'The Environmental History of the Soviet Union,' many of the environmental issues that arose during the Soviet period, such as pollution, deforestation, and the infamous nuclear tests and accidents. The focus on industrial and economic growth led to a dismissal of environmental concerns, precisely because of the centralized planning system.[24]


This work is not intended as a critique of modernism or social order, or even as a critique of socialism in its historically recognized forms. Rather, it is a critique of hegemonic design thinking that ignores the value of local knowledge and dialectical process.[25] Especially, in the context of local landscapes and the forces of nature. Witnessing first-hand the many results and scars of this state like design thinking, it is easy to recognize its careless flaws.


FERTILIZATION:“SYMBOL OF NEGLECT”

Over time, the negative effects of hogweed became increasingly apparent . By the 1980s the consumption of the plant resulted in dairy cows producing milk with an unpleasant taste, and the offspring of domestic animals and livestock suffered from gene mutations. Additionally, the risk of burns and bullous dermatitis caused by contact with the plant, though previously ignored became a concern later. The containing furanocoumarins which increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight caused severe burns and blindness to people as well as unreversible damage to cows' reproductive systems. To harvest it workers had to collect plants in gas masks and chemical protection suits. These factors led to the abandonment of attempts to cultivate the plant industrially.


The easiness of cultivation, which was previously considered a plus, turned into a problem as the lack of control allowed the plant to spread, colonising larger and larger areas.[26] It was discovered that areas surrounding the original plantations where impacted, causing damage and displacement of native plant species, with its ability to produce and spread enormous amounts of seeds, establishing in the new territories, and later excluding other native plants of light. In Russia, the variety of hogweed known as Sosnovsky "Severyanin" was determined to have "lost economic usefulness" and was removed from the state register of beneficial plants. The collapse  of the Soviet Union provided the perfect breeding ground for the invasive hogweed. Thus, the shutdown of a national construct and system or a "political crisis paved the perfect soil for a plant to spread in the meantime. Since all newly build collective farmsteads were left unattained, countries and their people focused on regaining their sovereignty and had to turn their attention to other things, while the extremely invasive plant was let loose and spread continuously without being monitored or controlled. Historically other invasive species followed the” footsteps of commerce and trade,” the same way hogweed followed the footsteps of a failed state, executing its utopian dreams like a ghost, reminding about past futures.


The decline in the rural population in Russia since the 1990s has led to a significant amount of unused agricultural land, with 100 million hectares out of 222 million hectares being unused according to 2016 data. This vast territory, which is equivalent to twice the size of Spain, was abandoned after the collapse of the Soviet Union due to its unprofitability for farming. As the human population decreased in these areas, the hogweed plant has advanced and taken over the abandoned land, expanding its coverage by 10 percent, every year. And slowly it creeps closer to the natural forests and urban areas. While the plant has lived under many names, it has now become “a symbol of neglect[27] .


In Belarus, the spread of Giant Hogweed has reached alarmingly high levels, with an estimated growth rate of up to 10% per year throughout the country and as much as 3% in the capital city of Minsk. The efforts to combat the species have primarily focused on raising awareness through informational campaigns, rather than physically removing the plants. Importantly, it is a major concern for the neighbouring countries as well. .[28] And while there are many ways to approach the problem, they may not always be efficient. Hogweed has become a significant concern for environmental officials and landowners in Estonia due to its rapid spread not only within Estonia but also in neighbouring countries such as Russia. The unchecked proliferation of the plant in Russia has resulted in instances of it "spilling over the border," as demonstrated by the large-scale presence of hogweed seen on the other side of the Narva River.[29] The seeds are capable of propagating in a way that extends far beyond visual observation. They can disseminate and occupy both aerial and terrestrial spaces, penetrating the soil and altering its composition, as well as the water and air. This weapon uses all of nature's elements without having to abide by human-made laws, maps, or borders of nation-states, creating its own map[30] .


In her work "The Unfolding Flower," designer Katla Taylor examines the introduction and history of the invasive species Lupinus Nootkatensis in Iceland, with a particular focus on the legal standpoint of the plant. One aspect of her analysis is the examination of the European Plant Passport, which was introduced in 2019 as a means of preventing and documenting the spread of plant pests, diseases, and accidents caused by new invasive species.[31] The documentation, tracing, categorization, and preservation of the natural world is crucial for understanding and managing the complex interactions and processes in the environment. This work is necessary to respond to the dynamic and organic nature of the environment and is an essential tool for understanding and preserving it. It provides valuable insights and data on the distribution, abundance, and ecological roles of distinct species and habitats, which are important for conservation and management.


One of the best examples in this field is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, founded in Norway, near the Arctic Archipelago, in 2008. This vault was designed to preserve a variety of plant seeds, focusing on crops for food security. Now it contains more than one million seed samples. Among these samples are notable representations of the Heracleum mantegazzianum, which is the most popular of hogweeds. However, it is unfortunate to note that the Heracleum sosnowskyi, a variant prevalent in post-Soviet nations, is not represented within the vault's collection, which might be for the best seeing the invasive nature of the plant.[32]


In the context of culture and structure, one could look through the lens of Deleuze’s and Guattari’s concept of the ”rhizome”  [33] . The spreading of the plant can be compared to a rhizomatic model as the model itself is based on plant thinking, rejecting fixed identities, borders, and human-designed orders, and fluidly multiplying without a clear start or end. The clear similarities to the "good-intentioned" socialism transforming into a monstrous, power-wielding machine that self-fuels without a clear goal becomes undeniable. Both leaving psychical and mental scars of history and memories. Interestingly, this notion reminds of the initial question, namely, whose revenge is the policy and whom is it directed to?


It is fortunate that when state regulation is lacking, individuals and communities often find ways to organize and operate in a manner more consistent with the principles of a rhizome. One such example is the grassroots "Anti-hogweed" community , which is focused on addressing the issue of hogweed invasion on a local level. Through self-organization, individuals from throughout Russia and neighbouring countries have established relationships for information sharing and collective voluntary work, with the goal of mapping, studying, and controlling the spread of this invasive plant. Additionally, this community has also taken steps to engage with local governments and work towards improving the legal framework for addressing the issue of hogweed invasion.[34] The grassroots approach and oral tradition have always been a tool for marginalized and power-excluded communities to empower their decision-making and ability to act. Furthermore, oral tradition has always been a way to pass down history, culture, and information. Preserving the stories that other way would be erased or lost.


In the same way, people in post-Soviet countries preserved many of the stories and feelings which were not allowed to discuss publicly in the Soviet regime. I believe for these reasons hogweed is a well-known and feared species in the Baltic states. It is common for individuals in these regions to have grown up with folk tales and horror stories surrounding the plant. The Giant Hogweed is seen by some as a symbol of occupation, by others as one of the many failures of the state, and by others as simply an aggravating plant on their land. However, regardless of one's perception of the plant, everyone in the Baltic states is aware of its toxic properties and can recount at least one personal story of unfortunate luck or stupidity that resulted in a hospital visit.


The village of Shutilovo, situated approximately 200 kilometres south of Nizhny Novgorod central Russia, has incorporated elements of bolshevik (another term used for hogweed) into its traditional folk rituals - ceremonies which continue to be upheld despite the former Soviet Union's attempts to modernize the rural population. One such ceremony entails the performance of mock funerals for effigies resembling scarecrows, during which villagers’ improvisational express lamentations for their "deceased companions". These dolls are subsequently torn apart by the village's children in the hopes of bringing about a bountiful harvest. Historically, the causes of death represented by these effigies have included illness, heartbreak, and even witchcraft. However, in 2019, the ceremony took on a tragicomic tone as it was centred around the failure of local authorities to control the growth of hogweed in the vicinity of the village, resulting in the symbolic death of a straw villager.[35] Stories like these can be understood as a way of community-based empowerment, allowing these groups to form and deal with the issues on their terms and to shape their future, despite the predicament that they are faced with.


SENESCENCE

Sosnovky Hogweed, endemic to the western and central Caucasus region, is a phototoxic and invasive plant and its spread that started during the Soviet times has become a major issue throughout the Baltic region nowadays. A centralized design decision resulted in an uncontrollable ecological and economic catastrophe. Both the story of the Hogweed and the Soviet Union, which were designed in isolation and lacked consideration for the interplay between natural and human forces, resulted in failure and led to the emergence of self-automated global systems that prioritize hegemonic objectives.


As illustrated by this research, the uncontrollable generativity of the plant also symbolizes a similar dynamic of unintended consequences of design thinking. Statecraft and centralization of farming practices explored throughout this paper offer an example of well-intentioned, conscious design decisions leading to a new set of challenges. A crucial aspect of this procedural mistake is the oblivion around the inherent characteristics a design tool (i.e. the Giant Hogweed) carries that leads to hasty decisions. Although simple to observe, the Hogweed's ability to spread with minimal need for human involvement was key in diverting the agricultural strategy of the Soviet Union from its course.


The community-based initiatives aimed at addressing the challenges caused by the spread of the plant indicate utopian ways of designing that could present an alternative to centralized generative or finite design practices. The level of assurance needed for a positive design solution can only come from prototyping at a grassroots level that although was, in theory, more available for the Soviet Union than modern capitalist systems, was never enforced.