Insect and Hydroponic Farming in Africa: The New Circular Food Economy



People have eaten insects and hydroponic crops for hundreds of years. But farming them is new, with huge potential for human food and animal feed all year round with very little 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 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. Learn more:

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

Agenda
00:00 Welcome and opening remarks
07:29 Report findings: Insect and Hydroponic Farming in Africa
27:09 Getting into the business of insect farming
30:38 People to eat insects or insects as a feed source for animals?
33:12 How the insect farming market works
35:50 Challenges in setting up and growing an insect farm
37:03 The food security situation in refugee settings in Africa
43:46 Insect farming or hydroponic farms in refugee settings in Africa
49:25 The cost of insect feed vs. traditional feed
51:30 Resistance from farmers in using insect feed
54:18 The impact and benefits of insect and hydroponic farming
57:40 Successful countries in the insect farming industry
59:46 The case of South Korea
1:02:11 Closing remarks

ABOUT THE WORLD BANK GROUP The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development.