AquacultureUK 2020 Insect Pavilion
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Despite initial enthusiastic responses to the idea of an insect pavilion amongst the exhibitors at the forthcoming AquacultureUK event in Scotland next May, we were not able to get companies that wanted to participate to commit before the exhibition booking deadline. It seems the timing is not quite right for them. We will continue to look for opportunities to help the insect food and feed sector by bringing people together and increase its visibility. Do suggest events where you think this would be useful.
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National Food Strategy
Contributors to the National Food Strategy have until 25 Oct 19 to send their submissions to foodstrategycallforevidence@defra.gov.uk. The purpose of the review is to address the environmental and health problems caused by our food system, to ensure the security of our food supply, and to maximise the benefits of the coming revolution in agricultural technology. Responses should be 1000 words or fewer.
Nick Rousseau has been invited to meet Henry Dimbleby, Independent Lead, National Food Strategy, and will participate in a round table discussion on sustainable protein alternatives at the end of October. Should you have points that you’d like Nick to make at these meetings please email nick.rousseau@woven-network.co.uk .
National Food Strategy
Contributions to National Food Strategy
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Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund - Food Production Systems call
Innovate UK is calling for applications for funding for projects to transform food production. It explicitly mentions insect farming within the Future Food Production Systems competition with up to £20 million to transform food production systems, improve productivity and sustainability, and help the industry move towards net zero emissions by 2040. Our reading of the specification is that they will want a pretty ambitious project that puts in place systemic changes and innovation. We could readily reach out to the many businesses and others we know to convene a consortium and facilitate the process of mapping out a project.
The competition is open and the deadline for applications is 22 Jan 20. Grant funding is available for projects of £1-10 million that disrupt the traditional land-based models of food production, changing systems to increase productivity, and aim for net zero emissions. The Knowledge Transfer Network offer advice for their £20m funding call at a meeting in Birmingham on 23rd October.
Get in touch if you are interested: nick.rousseau@woven-network.co.uk"
Further details of competition
Transforming Food Production website
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Funding to fight poverty in Africa with agritech
Innovate UK and UK Research and Innovation invite organisations to apply for a share of £5 million to work with partners in Africa on innovative agriculture and food projects that alleviate poverty.
Innovation in agriculture and food systems is low in developing countries, particularly in Africa where only 28% of farmland is planted with modern crops compared with 65% globally. The Department for International Development and the Global Challenges Research Fund working through the AgriTech Catalyst have up to £5 million to invest in agri-tech and food chain innovations in Africa. Applications open on 14 Oct 19, and the close on 8 Jan 20. Projects must be led in the UK and include at least 1 UK and 1 African partner and 1 business. Briefing events will be held on 24 Oct 19 and 6 Nov 19.
Innovate UK
How to apply for Innovate UK funding
UK Research and Innovation
Department for International Development
Global Challenges Research Fund
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Zero Waste Scotland funding
The Circular Economy Investment Fund of Zero Waste Scotland invites applications for grants from their £18 million funding to small and medium sized enterprises that are helping to create a more circular economy in Scotland. Enterprises which are exploring markets for new circular economy products, developing and adopting relevant innovative business models, and introducing innovative technologies, products and services are encouraged to apply.
Circular Economy Investment Fund application
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Insect based food to help reduce childhood obesity launched
Lesley Griffiths AM, Minister for Environment, Energy, and Rural Affairs in Wales has launched VEXo, an insect and plant protein with characteristics of mince but with 70-80% less saturated fat. VEXo has been developed by Bug Farm Foods, St Davids, sponsored by the Welsh Government and Innovate UK under the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) project, to harness the nutrients in insects and present them in a form that is acceptable to the western palate. VEXo will now appear on school menus in Pembrokeshire as part of an initiative to help reduce childhood obesity.
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Bug Farm Foods sell their Cricket Cookies and Buffalo Biscuits at Celtic Manor Resort, distribute their products in Wales through Blas as Fwyd, and Selfridges’ online food hall stock their whole insect range of foods. Celtic Manor staged a pop-up Grub Kitchen at their Newbridge on Usk country inn during insect week in June last year.
Bug Farm Foods
Bug Farm Foods - VEXo
Launch of VEXo in Wales
Grub Kitchen at Newbridge on Usk
Blas ar Fwyd
Selfridges online
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Surfactants and other chemicals from black soldier fly larvae
Desirable nutrients found in insects are used to promote their suitability for food and feed. Separating the component parts, or insect biocatalysis, has been achieved successfully in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Sheffield. The waste that the insects eat and the insects themselves produce fertiliser from the frass, proteinaceous animal feed, organic oils, and chitin.
Chitin may be used to produce an organic polymer, chitosan. This will catalyse organic oils into more valuable biodiesel and its derivatives such as green solvents. If chitin based catalysts can replace precious metal catalysts, the environmental cost from mining these metals may be avoided.
The organic oils are also a source of fat for biosurfactants that could replace ones derived from palm and coconut oils, and petrochemical sources reducing reliance on tree plantations and oil wells.
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This work in conjunction with Entomics Biosystems has been recognised with an award at the Nouryon Imagine Chemistry event for Dr James McGregor along with PhD student Eleanor O'Doherty. For further information: Dr James McGregor James.mcgregor@sheffield.ac.uk
Biocatalysis
Nouryon Imagine Chemistry event for chemical research
Nouryon
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Pet food from insects
The British Veterinary Association community blog ran an article in August recognising the contribution that insects could make to the to the sustainability of pet food. It estimated that 49% of us own a pet and that the global pet food market is worth £70 billion.
This was picked up by the BBC who reported that pets consume 20% of meat and that insect-based pet food was more expensive than existing premium meat based pet food and up to four times as expensive as budget brands.
The flurry of figures attracted Radio 4s ‘More or Less’ programme on 6 Sep 19. Twenty minutes into the programme the statistic of ‘20% of meat’ became ‘20% of animal derived calories’ to include tissues that would never be sold for human consumption. The British Veterinary Association considers this figure to be nearer 12%.
The contribution of insects to sustainability was not challenged. The insect based pet food producers are still left with the need to overcome any hesitation that owners harbour to feed insects to their pets, and to match the price of their products to existing ones derived using meat calories.
British Veterinary Association blog
BBC website
More or Less Radio 4 programme (20 minutes in)
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Bugtoberfest
10:00-12:30 Saturday 19 Oct 19, San Antonio Botanical Garden, Texas
Presentations and four-course insect based food tasting.
Contact: Molly Keck, mekeck@ag.tamu.edu
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Bexar County and San Antonio Botanical Garden
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The increasing demand for alternative protein sources worldwide had led the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to promote the potential of using insects both for feed and food, establishing a program called “Edible Insects.” Although several social, environmental, and nutritional benefits of the use of insects in the human diet have been identified, the majority of the population in Western countries rejects the idea of adopting insects as food, predominantly for cultural reasons.
Nevertheless, international interest in promoting the consumption of insects has grown significantly, mainly in North America and Europe. This trend is mostly due to increasing attention and involvement from the scientific network and the food and feed industries, as well as governments and their constituents.
The book explores the current state of entomophagy and identifies knowledge gaps to inform primary research institutions, students, members of the private sector, and policymakers to better plan, develop, and implement future research studies on edible insects as a sustainable source of food. The case studies and issues presented in this book cover highly up-to-date topics such as aspects of safety and allergies for human consumption, final meat quality of animals fed with insects, the legislative framework for the commercialization of this novel food, and other relevant issues.
2. van Huis A. Insects as food and feed, a new emerging agricultural sector: a review. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed 2019; 0 (0): 1 – 18 https://doi.org/10.3920/JIFF2019.0017
During the last five years the scientific knowledge on insects as food and feed has been growing exponentially. At the same time, the industrial sector is increasingly engaged in rearing, processing and marketing of edible insects. Considerable attention is given to the black soldier fly as it can convert organic waste streams and transform it into several feed, food and industrial products. The farming of insects has an environmental impact that is lower than livestock species. The profitability of industrial production of insects as feed depends very much on the availability and applicability of cheap non-utilised side-streams. Microbial communities and their relationship with insects deserve full attention as it may help in the conversion of organic side streams of low economic value. Nutrition and health benefits for animals and humans need further exploration, also considering that insects have the largest anti-microbial peptide reservoir of all animals. Plant health can also be promoted by using chitin-containing leftover substrates as fertiliser. As insects have only recently been considered as food or feed, legislation trails developments. Therefore, politicians need to be assured that rearing and processing techniques are such that insect products are guaranteed free of chemical and microbial contaminants. Consumers are becoming more and more aware that insects as food are a viable option. Insects need to be processed into ingredients that can be applied for safe and appetising products. The insect sector is maturing fast, but still faces many challenges, which can only be met when all stakeholders closely cooperate.
3. Spectator disparages insects as food of the future
Cassandra Coburn rejects the low environmental footprint of insects claiming scant evidence. In temperate climates energy must be expended to heat, light and humidify the environment of insects suited to tropical climates. Discarded food and waste that could feed insects raised for food and feed cannot be used if they contravene regulations introduced in response to the BSE and foot and mouth disease outbreaks. In countries where insects are an important part of subsistence diets, insects may become unaffordable if demand for them increases without a corresponding increase in supply. A plant based diet is offered as the way to deliver dietary nutrition with less environmental cost than a diet including meat.
Spectator article
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