For many people, the idea of eating insects can still be daunting. However, a startup entrepreneur in South Africa has recently demonstrated that insects can be a valuable source of nutrition and that farming insects for food is completely environmentally friendly.
According to reporters in South Africa, with the aim of changing perceptions about consuming the highly popular “mopane worm” in Southern Africa, South African chemical engineer Wendy Vesela has found a way to process these spiky green and black caterpillars, which are rich in protein and iron, into a powder that can be used to make cookies, sweet chocolate-flavored nutritional bars, cereals, or smoothies.
South African chemical engineer Wendy Vesela has found a way to process insects into snacks. (Photo: dailymaverick)
Slices of “mopane worm” can also be used as toppings on pizza. Engineer Vesela stated that she has found domestic and international customers for her organic products.
In Limpopo province, Vesela’s hometown, where she grew up in a town not far from the world-famous Kruger National Park, “mopane worms” are a popular food, cooked in a sauce made from onions and tomatoes. According to Vesela, this type of caterpillar is “a healthy nutritional choice” and people just need to overcome their fear of eating it.
Vesela has been trying to attract hesitant customers to taste her cookies and nutritional bars made from mopane worms at a recent food fair in Sandton, Johannesburg. One of Vesela’s first customers, 38-year-old Gail Odendaal, affirmed: “I have never eaten worms. But if you present it to me in the form of a chocolate like this, it’s actually very delicious.”
South African food expert Anna Trapido emphasized that “eating insects and edible bugs should not be viewed as a trendy dietary trend, akin to an adventurous form of travel.” According to this expert, mopane worms “need to be treated with respect as they are part of the local people’s cuisine, spirit, and emotions.”
Meanwhile, nutrition expert Mpho Tshukudu also affirmed that “mopane worms” are very environmentally friendly, requiring no additional water or land to farm, as they breed and feed on mopane trees that grow in the dry and hot regions of Southern Africa.
She also stated that this type of caterpillar is a much better source of protein than many other food products on the market. Tshukudu noted that this insect species “contains a lot of protein, fats, and essential minerals, especially iron. It has more iron content than even the most expensive steak.”
With rising demand since she started her business seven months ago, entrepreneur Vesela plans to expand her insect-based food business. She currently hires rural women to collect mopane worms during their breeding season in December and April. The raw materials will be processed, dried, and then used whole or ground into powder.
