Africa is abuzz with insect protein. Insects are a traditional fare in much of Africa but growing realisation of their nutritional value and sustainability credentials is turning a very traditional fare into a 21st century commodity. Several companies now commercially rear insects that were once a seasonal treat. But the largest market is in animal feed: feed manufacturers are keen to move away from soy … Continue reading Africa is abuzz with insect protein
We need to start feeding poop to insects. Animals create vast amounts of excrement, so why aren’t we feeding it to insects, the least fussy eaters out there? This is, after all, what many insect larvae actually feed on in the wild. Read the full story here. Published in Wired on 22 January 2021. Continue reading Poop for critters
Bug bites in Madagascar In the last two years, two insect farming projects have taken off in Madagascar as a way to provide precious protein while alleviating pressure on lemurs and other wild animals hunted for bushmeat. One programme, which promotes itself with a deck of playing cards, encourages rainforest residents in the northeast to farm a bacon-flavoured native planthopper called sakondry. The other focuses … Continue reading Bugs bite in Madagascar
A breakthrough in Covid-19 wastewater checks could speed up tests for informal settlements. Since the beginning of the pandemic, dozens of countries around the world have been monitoring their sewer systems for the Covid-19 virus. This is all well and good in countries where virtually all the population is connected to the sewer network. But for sub-Saharan Africa, where less than 10% of the population … Continue reading Testing for Covid-19 in sewage
Edible insects and lab-grown meat are on the menu. Although two billion people around the world regularly eat insects, consumers in the West have historically shunned them as a food source. But concerns about the environmental impact of food production are putting insects on the menu: they are rich in protein and more sustainable to produce than meats such as beef or pork. I predicted … Continue reading Coming soon to a table near you
Kenya Shakes Up Farming with Insect Feed. A new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs in Kenya are using the larvae of black soldier flies as a sustainable alternative to fishmeal and soy. Could it take off internationally? Read the full story here. Published on DW.com on 30 July 2020. Photo ©Emilie Filou Continue reading Kenya Shakes Up Farming with Insect Feed
The Insect Solution to Soy Insects could help reduce reliance on environmentally damaging proteins in animal feed, such as fishmeal and soya beans. A fifth of the world’s wild fish catch is currently used to make fishmeal, which is contributing to overfishing in certain areas, while soya production is wreaking havoc in the forests of South America. Insect entrepreneurs have plenty of ideas on how … Continue reading The Insect Solution to Soy
A Biscuit with Extra (Insect) Crunch Insects are traditional food in many African countries but young people and urban dwellers aren’t so keen on this traditional fare so the International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) is trying to give it a modern twist. Listen to the story here. Broadcast on BBC Radio 4 From Our Own Correspondent on 20 June 2020. Photo ©Emilie … Continue reading A Biscuit With Extra (Insect) Crunch
Move over fishmeal, here come the insects Fishmeal and fish oil, widely used in animal feed, deplete fish stocks for human consumptions and marine predators. Animal feed manufacturers around the world are therefore looking for alternative sources of protein; insects and bacteria are amongst the most promising and production is starting to take off. Read the story here. Published in Mongabay on 24 April 2020. … Continue reading Move over fishmeal, here come the insects
Buzzing about insect farming Growing demand for fishmeal and soy in animal feed has been disastrous for the environment. Could the black soldier fly and other insects be sustainably used in husbandry and aquaculture instead of plants? Read the story here. Published in The Correspondent on 20 January 2020. Photo ©Thomas Shahan, Creative Commons License on Flickr Continue reading Buzzing about insect farming
