Dorte Verner
Lead Agriculture Economist, World Bank
Insect and hydroponic farming have the potential to increase access to nutritious food, feed and fertilisers whilst creating millions of jobs, improving the environment and climate crisis, and strengthening national economies.
What if there’s a way to feed everyone on our planet with a nutrient-rich diet and not drain our planet’s forests and biodiversity? A World Bank report makes a strong case on the role of insect and hydroponic farming.
The consumption of insects is not new, with an estimated 2 billion people globally consuming insects that are collected in the wild. The challenge with wild insects is that they are seasonal and may not be safe to consume – for instance, they may have eaten plants sprayed with pesticides.
In addition, farming insects specifically for human and animal consumption can provide a year-round supply of high-quality animal proteins to meet the growing demand. Insects can be raised like livestock, making them available all year round. Combining hydroponic crops, which also use very little water and require no arable land, with insect farming is novel and provides benefits ranging from improved nutrition to climate-resilient food production synergies.
Cross-sector benefits
Insect and hydroponic crop farming, for both human food and animal feed, not only improves food and nutrition security but also helps the environment. Farming insects reduces waste, takes the pressure off land and water resources and helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The consumption of insects is not new, with an estimated 2 billion people globally consuming insects that are collected in the wild.
Insect and hydroponic farming are cost effective and cheaper to run than conventional farming. They are especially suitable in vulnerable communities or areas that don’t support conventional farming, such as cities and arid climates.
A circular economy
Both insect and hydroponic farming fit within a circular economic model that can supplement conventional farming.
Insects can be fed organic waste to quickly produce nutritious and protein-rich foods for humans, fish and livestock. The waste from insects can also be fed back into the soil as organic fertiliser creating a circular economy.
Africa’s potential
African insect farming using agriculture waste as feed could annually generate crude protein worth up to USD 2.6 billion and biofertilisers worth up to USD 19.4 billion. According to the report, that is enough protein to meet up to 14% of the crude protein needed to rear all the pigs, goats, fish and poultry in Africa.
The world needs a food production system that can feed everyone with nutritious food while providing economic benefits and protecting the environment. A circular food economy focused on farming insects and hydroponic crop production can help deliver on this promise.