Hi everyone, 

Welcome back! I hope you are excited for the weekend. Before you say hello to Saturday you have to get through Friday and hopefully, today’s blog will make time fly a little faster. This week we are turning our eye to alternative foods, of the insect variety! 

It is thought that the world's population will be reaching a shocking and claustrophobic feeling, 9 billion by 2050! This means more demand for housing, more demand on energy and most importantly an increased demand on the world’s food systems. This poses a few problems for the world's biodiversity due to the additional land, energy and water that will be needed to meet this increased food demand. 

So where does that leave us? Well, there are a few alternatives floating around but the one that is catching my eye is one that was valued at $3.2 million US Dollars in 2021 and is set to reach $17.6 billion US Dollars (according to Statista), insect farming! Why insects? Well, they have a high nutritional value, they require minimal space and have a low environmental impact overall. The consumption of insects, or entomophagy could be the solution to a lot of the world's food production problems in future. In fact, there are many areas of the world where insects are commonly consumed, so we may be missing out on something great. So the aim for this post is to get you all a little more familiar with entomophagy.

Insects for human food:

The most commonly eaten insects are beetles, caterpillars, bees, ants, crickets, grasshoppers and locusts. For hundreds of years, regions of the world including Asia, South America and parts of Europe have consumed various species of insects. In fact, approximately, 2,000 insect species are consumed in 113 countries. For those of you planning on visiting Mexico, Laos or Cambodia you might want to keep an eye out for a delicate gourmet dish known as Escamoles, otherwise known as ant eggs. 

As you can imagine one of the main reasons why insect cafes are not as popular as wine bars or coffee shops on the high streets of the UK or USA  is because they look like the image above. Yep, not the most appetising-looking snack/meal. If you are wondering how typical insects weigh up against more conventional foods check out my partner in crimes video where he goes into the nutritional comparisons, well worth a watch! To provide a quick summary, it is generally agreed that the nutritional value of insects tends to be rich in proteins, fat and vitamins and actually weigh up relatively well to conventional protein sources… yummy! 

Something to ponder with... a research paper proposed a possible way of getting people used to an insect-based diet by developing insect-based ingredients, rather than whole insect products.

Insects and livestock feed: 

Currently, farmland occupies 30% of the global land area, 70% of this is used to produce feed for livestock animals. Insects with their high nutritional value and low space requirements make them an appealing alternative to standard feed which is around 70% of livestock-production expenses. Insect farming is thought to be a great environmentally-friendly alternative, especially as it requires significantly less water consumption because insects get their water from fruits and vegetables. 

Well, this is all well and good in theory… but how does it measure up to actual animal feed. The most promising and well-studied potential insect sources for feed production came in the form of black soldier flies, larvae, yellow mealworms, silkworms, grasshoppers and even termites! When broiler chickens were fed diets enriched with housefly larvae in comparison to more conventional ones such as soybean meal, it was found that their growth performance and carcass quality were improved. In addition to an increase in growth performance and carcass quality, there was found to be a marginal increase in egg production. In fact, in the Philippines, consumers preferred the taste of pasture-grown chickens fed with grasshoppers to those fed on commercial feed.

According to a research paper, the global feed market heavily relies on Genetically Modified soybean as the main source of protein for livestock diets. This poses an issue for food security for countries in the EU and the UK. Due to a slightly unfavourable climate this crop doesn't prosper there, which makes the insect-based feed a good potential for farmers. Interestingly, insect protein is already used in the production of fish feed in the EU.

So we have reached the end of this week's blog! To summarise, in general, insects have the potential to be a great protein source for human and livestock consumption. Let's cut to the point, we are barrelling towards a massive biodiversity and ecological crisis which impart if caused by significant changes in land use, which is in part due to a growing demand for food. Insects could ease this pressure, however! Are you willing to have an insect-based diet? Is the real problem food distribution rather than production? Or is the real answer to let livestock eat what they are actually meant to eat, grass! rather than corn and so on? This is some real food for thought and we want to hear from you on what you have read and what you think.

Have a fab weekend!

Lndnscientistx Team

References and acknowledgements:

Farmland landscape: Photo by Tom Fisk: https://www.pexels.com/photo/bird-s-eye-view-of-river-in-middle-of-green-fields-1483880/

Honey bee image - Photo by David Hablützel: https://www.pexels.com/photo/yellow-and-black-bee-in-macro-photography-1036269/

Insect food bowl: Image by <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/top-view-insects-sliced-lemons_5007046.htm#query=edible%20insects&position=2&from_view=keyword&track=robertav1_2_sidr">Freepik</a>

Cow  - Photo by Matthias Zomer: https://www.pexels.com/photo/three-black-and-white-cows-422218/

Speckled  Hen - Photo by The masked Guy: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-and-black-hen-beside-chicken-chicks-754308/

Insect bowl - Image by <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/earthworms-bowl-chopsticks-close-up_5007087.htm#query=edible%20insects&position=3&from_view=keyword&track=robertav1_2_sidr">Freepik</a>

Edible insects as a protein source: A review of Public Perception, Processing Technology, and Research Trends.

Potential utilisation of edible insects as an alternative source of protein in animal diets in Poland

The future is crawling: Evaluating the potential of insects for food and feed security

Read more »

Topaz

Hi everyone! 

Wishing you all a happy Friday. It has been a very long time since my last post, but I am super excited to say that I am back with my partner in crime! Together we will aim to post something new every Friday. So let’s get into it! 

Today we are revisiting David Attenbrough’s Wild Isles documentary, for those who missed it David used this series to cast a spotlight on wildlife and habitats closer to home. Over the course of just five episodes, he visited some of the furthest reaches of the British Isles showcasing some of the best that Britsh Wildlife has to offer all the while communicating the perils that they are facing and stories of hope for their future. 

As a self-confessed wildlife enthusiast and admirer, I found my knowledge fell short on the diversity of British wildlife and the habitats which they occupy. In fact, the result was a sudden urge for my partner and me to go and explore our own backyard, and by backyard… I mean Britain. Spring has arrived (finally) which means a road trip might be in order. But where to start? How do you begin to plan a road trip of such epic proportions?

We started by rewatching every episode, noting down every time an animal was mentioned or featured and the general location of where they were spotted. It resulted in a list of about 28 locations! After a heated debate between my partner and me on which of these locations should make the final list we finally narrowed it down to just 9 stops. Resulting in our very own ‘Wild Isles Road Trip’. This road trip has been made on two big assumptions… 1) you have unlimited money for fuel 2) you love driving for hours… and hours.

 Somerset

Our Wild Isles road trip starts in Southwestern England, Somerset. Situating yourself at reedbeds you are awaiting for a seasonal visitor to arrive. Their arrival is timed for when dragonflies erupt into life around rivers and a small specialist aerial hunter is ready to have a protein snack, the Hobby. Hobby’s are small falcons that travel from Africa for our wonderfully tasty (according to them!) dragonflies. Whilst they can be spotted in various places in Somerset, according to the Wildlife Trust you have a chance of glimpsing them at Westhay Moor National Reserve. 

 Forest of Dean

After soaking up the beautiful natural scenery of Somerset, it is time to load the car for a short 1hr 18min drive to the Forest of Dean. As a reminder, the species that featured as the icon for this stop was the wild boar. It might seem a bit bizarre to travel this far to go and see a pig, but it is what they represent! A movement amongst wildlife activists all across Britain to rewild our nature reserves and green spaces. Rewilding and reintroduction of species are the next big things for UK Wildlife  Conservation making this a must-see stop for any nature enthusiast! Remember to keep an eye out for robins following these pigs closely as they unearth tasty and yummy worms for them to snack on. You have to love a symbiotic relationship!

 Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire 

Stock up on the snacks and load the Spotify playlist because you have a 3hr 38min drive ahead of you!  Once you have arrived get yourself up and out and give yourself a good stretch because now it is time to go and spot a herd of wild horses. According to David, you have to give it some time as these herds are constantly on the move in search of fresh young trees. But what a sight! A herd of wild horses, specifically Konik ponies. However, this area is an amazing spot on its own. It was the National Trust’s first-ever nature reserve and one of Europe's most important wetlands which has earned it the classification as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. So get out there and explore, as Wicken Fen is pretty wicked! (I am not sorry for the terrible joke). As a teaser here is a link to the National Trust page.

 

 River Wensum

Once you have soaked up all the incredible nature and admired the beauty of its landscapes, it is time to hop back in the car for a quick 1hr 20min drive to the River Wensum, in Norfolk. Here you will find what many refer to as ‘England’s rainforests’, our chalk rivers. There are just over 200 in the whole world and here in the UK we are lucky to have 160 of them! They are filled to the brim with biodiversity from tiny insects, to the elusive vole and what David Attenborough described as the most charming bird species, the Kingfisher. But why have we been drawn to the River Wensum in particular? Not only is it of course a chalk river, it is one of the most protected rivers in the entirety of Europe. It is classed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation status for its whole length.  For more information on what you can get up to whilst out there check out this website.

Houghton Hall

Once you have taken in the sites and even been lucky enough to spot a Kingfisher your next stop will take you to a truly incredible-looking estate only 36 minutes away, Houghton Hall. Now this stop is a little tricky, as the Hall and its gardens are only open at certain times of the year (between April and October) and even then it is only open on select days of the week so be sure to check to avoid disappointment, here. Houghton Hall was built for Britain’s first Prime Minister and is now home to a rather unique Model Soldier Museum and an award-winning Garden home to a wonderful herd of Fallow deer, as seen on Wild Isles. You might remember them as the deer that like to decorate their antlers during the rutting season with dense foliage. A great day out where you can kick back and enjoy some commercial tourism.

Seahouses Harbour for Farne and Staple Island

Your next stop is a very exciting wildlife treat! After a 5hr road trip, you will land at Seahouses Harbour. Once there, you will have to decide which tour company to take you out to the Farne Islands, where you will be greeted with an incredible collection of birds, including the puffin! You can spot 23 different species of bird in this one spot! No wonder David Attenborough stated it was one of his favourite places for UK wildlife. I thoroughly enjoyed the Puffin episode and I am now obsessed with seeing them in the wild. In my opinion, they sound a bit like old men chattering. TripAdvisor released a page on the 5 Best Boat Trips to go and see these wonderful birds, so do your research before you go… here .

Glen Tanar National Nature Reserve  

Now for those of you who were great, great lovers of ‘Wild Isles’ then this is your hotspot. This stop is where you want to carve out some time to explore and soak up everything it has to offer. Some of the show's most spectacular and dramatic wildlife call this area home; the Capercaillie, Golden Eagles, White-tipped eagles, Red Deer and Grouse to name a few. Most definitely worth the 4-hour drive. As mentioned this is one the best hotspots of wildlife so you will want to make the most of this spot. Whilst, I was googling how best to get to this Nature Reserve I came across the most amazing 4-day  itinerary of how to see as much nature and wildlife as you can. I am sure there are loads but I wanted to share the one I found with you, here.

Aberdeen Harbour, Shetland and Orkney Islands

The team who worked on the Wild Isles knew how to start the series with a bang! Watching their black and white silhouettes glide just below the surface of the water, stuck both fear and awe into my heart. I am of course referring to the Killer Whales. They make their way to Shetland and Orkney for the abundance of seals, especially around Spring (it is whispered that there is a resident pod always found in these waters). Now to get to these islands you must make your way to the Northern Pier in Aberdeen just over an hour's drive away. From here you can take a boat out to the islands and with any luck, you might spot these apex predators in their element, hunting some poor unfortunate seals. Warning, these guys are a bit psychotic when it comes to hunting so sensitive viewers may wish to turn away! Even if you don’t get to see a Killer Whale don’t fret as it is a marine mammal hotspot so you will be bound to see something wonderful.

River Ness

After a refreshing boat trip and some wildlife spotting you will make your way to the very last stop on this road trip. I know sad times!! My partner an I loved this stop in the series as it was like our own version of the famous American salmon run! There were a few differences such as instead of bears hunting the salmon, it was pods of bottlenose dolphins. There are spots along the River Ness where you can watch this seasonal phenomenon and choose who you are rooting for. The beautiful dolphins snapping them up, or the salmon desperately trying to make their way upriver, to lay their eggs and die. What a brilliant way to end your road trip in such high spirits.

This is now the end of our Wild Isles Road Trip! And you now have to find your way back home or continue your journey onwards. If you do this road trip you would have driven for a collective 20 hours and travelled 955 miles according to Google Maps. It might seem like a lot of miles, but this road trip is just the tip of the iceberg of what you can find in the Wild Isles. We hope this has inspired you to take on a British adventure whether a smaller portion or the whole thing!

P.S. This route was plotted out on Google Maps and so might not be the most accurate i.e. it might involve travelling down restricted/private roads so always be sure to check before you embark on your adventure. Also a quick reminder, all the major events listed, typically take place in Spring/Early Summer.

See you again this time next week!

LndnScientist team.

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Topaz