Farmed fungi, algae and insects will be crucial to beating global malnutrition and cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions

As traditional food production faces threats from global warming, new methods are needed

Hi-tech farming of alternative proteins: insect larvae, algae and fungi is the solution, say researchers

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Feeding the world’s hungry will mean farming insects, fungi and algae to mass produce proteins. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 8:15pm, 17 May 2021Updated: 12:37pm, 19 May 2021

A sprinkle of mycoprotein in your burger? Cities dotted with photo-bioreactors growing algae? Mass farming of house fly maggots?

These are just some of the food innovations that researchers say will be crucial to combat malnutrition in the face of climate change and other system shocks.

With traditional food systems facing severe threats – including extreme heat, unpredictable rainfall, pests and soil degradation – researchers at the University of Cambridge say that it is time to totally reimagine the field.

Pressure is also mounting to sharply curb consumption of meat, especially beef, a major source of greenhouse gases.

A future food farming system with state-of-the-art enclosed and modular photo-bioreactors (PBR) to produce chlorella and spirulina algae. Photo: AFP

To improve diets and secure food supplies sufficiently to end malnutrition, they say hi-tech farming methods – some pioneered for space travel – should be incorporated into food systems globally.

Farmed fungi, algae and insects will be crucial to beating global malnutrition and cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions

As traditional food production faces threats from global warming, new methods are needed Hi-tech farming of alternative proteins: insect larvae, algae and fungi is the solution, say researchers

As traditional food production faces threats from global warming, new methods are needed

Hi-tech farming of alternative proteins: insect larvae, algae and fungi is the solution, say researchers