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Edible insects are increasingly part of the foodie conversation in the West, indeed you may remember the edible insects served at the Belgium pavilion at Milan Expo last year. As the world’s population expands, people may need to conquer their squeamishness in the search for new and sustainable food sources.
This survival pod, created by New York design and architecture organisation Terreform ONE puts eating insects at its core. In the event of natural disaster or food shortage, the plywood structure, which is currently just a prototype, will offer both protection from the elements and serve as a working farm.
Photo: Terreform ONE
The strange looking structure consists of 264 plastic rectangular insect pods that will be home to thousands of crickets. It’s estimated that the 'Cricket Shelter Farm’ could produce up to 22,000 edible insects every six to twelve weeks. Ventilation tubes that enable the crickets to move freely connect the insect pods, which prevents overcrowding and cannibalisation within the insect community.
Photo: Terreform ONE
Terreform One have also developed recipes based on cricket flour and have produced an insect protein bar and insect-infused vodka. Co-founder Mitchell Joachim told CNN that the organisation was currently working with chefs and restaurants in Brooklyn on how to introduce the insects to menus and is experimenting with adding flavour to the crickets by feeding them certain foodstuffs, such as orange peel and apple.
So, we may all be indulging in edible insects sooner than we think, and not just as a last resort. Watch the video below to discover more.
