People have eaten insects and hydroponic crops for hundreds of years. But farming them is new, with huge potential for human and animal food all year round with very few resources. Farmed insects can be fed organic waste, then quickly become protein-rich foods for humans and animals. Waste from insects can then return to the soil as a biofertilizer, creating a circular economy.
Africa already has hydroponic farms and more than 850 insect farms that produce food and feed. But the sector is still in its infancy, with the potential to create millions of jobs, including for women and youth if it is scaled up in Africa and beyond. Join our event to learn from insect farmers, development experts, and World Bank staff who are pushing the frontier of agriculture to create jobs, improve food security and save the planet.
Speakers:
Raouf Mazou
Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Talash Huijbers
CEO of InsectiPro
Juergen Voegele
Vice President, Sustainable Development, World Bank
Dorte Verner
Lead Agriculture Economist, World Bank
Martien van Nieuwkoop
Global Director, Agriculture and Food Global Practice, World Bank
Moderator:
Simon Tulett
The Food Chain, BBC World Service
For more information, visit www.live.worldbank.org.