Primary school kids to be fed insects as an eco-friendly ‘alternative protein’

Pupils at four primary schools will be offered edible insects as scientists urge young people to embrace ‘alternative protein’ and eco-friendly meat substitutes.

While most children expect to eat the likes of lasagne and fish and chips while at school, pupils at four Welsh primary schools will soon be given the chance to sample bugs and insects as part of a new environmental study.

Researchers hope to feed the pupils a product called VeXo, a combination of insect and plant-based protein said to resemble ‘conventional’ mince.

The children will also take part in workshops organised by scientists and teachers to inform them about the benefits of eating ‘alternative protein’ like bugs.

Alex Berger / Flickr

The study will also use surveys, interviews and focus groups to explore pupil’s understandings of alternative proteins – and as part of the research they will be offered a sample if they wish to try it.

According to i newspaper, researchers are hoping to use data from the study to learn how best to educate children about the nutritional and environmental benefits of eating bugs and insects – such as crickets, silkworms, locusts and mealworms – as an alternative protein source.

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The study lead, Christopher Bear from Cardiff University, said: “We want the children to think about alternative proteins as real things for now, rather than just as foods for the future, so trying some of these foods is central to the research.

“Although edible insects are – for now – not sold widely in the UK, they form part of the diet of around 2 billion people worldwide.

Markeaton Primary School

“Much of this is in parts of the world where they are part of long-standing culinary traditions. And they are increasingly popular elsewhere.”

The headteacher of Roch Community Primary in Pembrokeshire, one of the schools taking part in the study, said the issue was ‘important’ but acknowledged it was ‘difficult’ for youngsters to make sense of the issue.

He said: “There is an important connection between our local community, food production and wider global issues surrounding sustainable development.

“These issues are important to children, but also difficult to make sense of and can often be confusing for them.”