AgriFoSe2030 highlighting the benefits of eating insects at World Food Day

The Swedish FAO committee, together with SIANI, organised a seminar in conjunction with the World Food Day. The event had the goal to highlight multi-sector cooperation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 2, making sustainable and nutritious food accessible for all.

AgriFose2030 was present to showcase one of its projects in Southern Africa connected to the topic of livestock. Sofia Boqvist talked about the importance of an, for us, unusual type of livestock; edible insects. There are growing signs, in Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries, that governments, companies and civil society see the value in ramping up the edible insects’ industry. Why? Insects can be one solution among the many needed to support a growing agri-food sector that contributes to food and nutrition security.

– We use a theory of change approach which implies an early engagement with stakeholders, leading to that impacts are jointly identified. This also means that outputs and outcomes are iteratively co-generated in collaboration with these stakeholders.

Sofia Boqvist emphasised that using insects as a protein source can improve nutrition and also encourage women to become agro-entrepreneurs. The sustainability aspect is crucial when promoting insects as food. Hence, why the involvement and support of the urban council, where the project activities take place, has been so important. It has meant that the edible insect market has given confidence amongst stakeholders to dare take the step and start producing insects, as well as connecting to other actors in the value chain.