About The Episode

Over the past few years there has been a growing discourse and debate surrounding food security and nutrient availability now and for the future. As agricultural land is becoming less fertile, fresh water contaminated, and the general mismanagement of the natural resources we depend on for a functioning food system, alternative solutions keep popping up to deal with the probable shortages that countries will experience. The solutions take many forms. Whether that be a locally sourced diet (eating only what is is season or coming from the surrounding 100km as an example), plant based diet which uses less water, space, and monocrops which predominantly go to supporting the meat and dairy industry, to the more technological and peripheral ideas such as vertical farming, incorporating lab grown meat, or even cultivating insect based protein for animal as well as human consumption. 

We have already seen a growth in both locavores and vegetarian/vegan movements over the past several years. And even though lab grown meat has dropped significantly in price from its initial costs of over 100k per hamburger, it is still more expensive than the standard meat options in the store. However, insect production is already a valid approach, and even more so when an automated production process is incorporated. So today we’ll be looking at this interesting, and certainly different perspective of creating food security for our uncertain future.