It can - basically, redefine the kernel $k$ as follows:
$$
k = \left[ \begin{array}{} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 9 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & 1 \end{array} \right]
$$
Then redefine $f$ as
$$
f(u) = \begin{cases}
1 & \text{if } u \in \{3, 11, 12\} \\
0 & \text{else} 
\end{cases}
$$
This corresponds to the previous parameterization via $(0,3)\to 3$, $(1,2)\to 11$, $(1,3)\to 12$.

Now the system can be written simply as $u_{t+1} = f \circ (k * u_t)$. How cool! It also suggests a family of similar systems with sharply mean-centric dispersion kernels and bimodal activation functions which display Life-like dynamics.