14 September 2011

Yuck

A beautiful bright morning after a dire few days, and a very enjoyable run.
As cracks appear across the Eurozone, and mad Republicans begin to fly in circles around Obama, some good news is very welcome: research is underway to create viable human food from insects (ref). Actually, this isn't news at all - it's been going on for ages, but it is becoming increasingly important. 
Crickets and locusts are already well recognised in some parts of the world as being highly nutritious and even the humble mealworm has great potential. Unlike beef, with its notorious fodder conversion factor of 1:10, insects are much more efficient at around 1:1.5. Crucially, at least some insects also have the ability to convert organic waste into edible food, which could be a massive contribution to sustainable food production.
The yuck factor is being taken seriously for the pampered & infantile Western consumers, so when the 1st insect-derived products arrive in supermarkets in an estimated 5 years time it’s unlikely that the particular species will be identified, at least until we can learn to appreciate the subtle tasting notes of free-range organic roaches/maggots/midges.

No comments:

Post a Comment