Latest Sustainable Food Plan Will Make You Sick
(IntegrityMag.com) – An exclusive report by inews, a news outlet in the UK, revealed that four primary schools in Wales will participate in workshops where they offer children an insect protein product called VeXo. According to the company, the brand combines proteins from plants and bugs to produce a product that looks like ground beef. The study aims to help bring children on board with eating insects because they are more environmentally friendly.
A Study of Children and Bugs
The workshops are part of a program funded by UK universities. Researchers want to learn how to better present insect protein to children to get them to eat it. Children will participate in forums and focus groups. They also will go through interviews so researchers can find out more about their feelings on eating these alternative protein sources.
Those running the program feel it’s vital to change attitudes about bug protein because of the many benefits of eating insects and plants versus large animals. One researcher from the University of the West of England, Verity Jones, suggested that making kids excited about VeXo could help them to push their parents into making the switch.
Jones suggested also teaching children about how bug matter is already in many of the food items they eat, making it feel more natural to them. She noted that kids usually have no trouble eating insect protein once they find out that they’ve already been eating bug parts unknowingly.
It’s All About the Climate
One of the main factors behind this program is the push toward living greener and finding ways to be more environmentally friendly. The headmaster at one of the participating schools, Carl Evans, explained climate issues are important to children. And many other groups are pushing the agenda to switch to insects as a primary protein source.
The World Resources Institute says by 2050, the world will not be able to provide enough animal protein to feed a population estimated to reach 10 billion while also focusing on protecting the environment. In 2012, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) maintained that insects are the best option for a sustainable protein that will help avoid food shortages and meet climate goals.
People’s reluctance is the main obstacle all authorities see with getting the world to switch to a diet that includes bugs. Yet, that’s why researchers are running the program in Wales. They feel that if they can change children’s minds, it might encourage adults to take the leap and eat insect proteins, too.
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