logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2024
27m 54s

Why aren’t we eating more insects?

Bbc Radio 4
About this episode

We try some cricket tacos and ask what role insects might play in our future diets, in a special programme with a live audience at Green Man Festival in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park in Wales.

Our panellists: Peter Smithers, an entomologist and fellow of the Royal Entomological Society Aaron Thomas, co-founder of Yum Bug, which makes meat out of crickets Dr Emily Porter, a dietician and gut health specialist for the NHS and The Gut Health Clinic

What else should we explore – and where else should we visit? Send your suggestions to insidescience@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton Producer: Gerry Holt Editor: Martin Smith Sound manager: Mike Cox Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

Up next
Aug 27
The day of the datacentres
Reports about the impacts of datacentres, including carbon emissions, water usage and power consumption, vary drastically and the truth can be hard to decipher. Deborah Andrews, Emeritus Professor at London South Bank University, joins us for some myth busting. Plus, science jour ... Show More
26m 28s
Aug 20
Is the era of the cancer vaccine upon us?
This week Merck (known as MSD in Europe) and Moderna announced that a personalised cancer vaccine had significantly improved the outcomes of melanoma patients. Is the era of the cancer vaccine, at last, upon us? What does that mean? Anne Willis, a cancer cell biologist at the Med ... Show More
26m 28s
Aug 13
Should we be scared of AI viruses?
The extreme possibilities of synthetic biology hit the headlines last week, when researchers at Stanford University in the US announced they had created new kinds of viruses designed by Artificial Intelligence. Roland Pease is joined by microbiologist Dr Simon Clarke from Reading ... Show More
26m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2021
Daily: BUZZ FEED – Why eating insects will save the world
Chances are you haven’t willingly eaten an insect. But two billion people are already bugging out on this sustainable source of protein. Could insects offer the perfect solution for our post-Brexit and pandemic supply chain problems?Entomologist Brian Fisher and Imperial College ... Show More
35m 35s
Sep 2021
The bug business
Insects are cheap, packed full of nutrients, and farming them for food could help save the planet. Convincing more people to eat them, though, remains a big challenge.Tamasin Ford speaks to three insect entrepreneurs trying to persuade the squeamish, especially in Europe and Nort ... Show More
28m 29s
Mar 2025
Selects: Are crickets the future of food?
Crickets are part of a larger insect-based diet enjoyed in most parts of the world. Loaded with vitamins, minerals and protein, and green to boot, crickets could help solve some of the world's food problems if Europe and America get on board. Learn all about cricket farming in th ... Show More
43m 58s
Nov 2024
How to keep Martians fed and happy
Daniel and Kelly talk about the future of food in space. Do you like lukewarm cricket tacos? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
54m 14s
Aug 2018
543. Britain's First Insect Restaurant Opens
<p>Talking about the creepy subject of eating insects, which might be the solution to many of the problems that humans face as a species. This episode includes discussion of eating habits, environmental issues and some insect-related idioms and expressions. Transcripts and vocabu ... Show More
57m 15s
Jun 2023
Are we what we eat?
Brian Cox and Robin Ince examine their own diets and the diet fads of the past to ask what we should actually be eating. They are joined by Dr Chris van Tulleken, Professor Janet Cade and comedian Harry Hill to discuss the nutritional merits, or lack thereof, of everything from s ... Show More
42m 28s
Jul 2021
The pros and cons of eating bugs | Tell Me More
In many parts of the world, insects are a regular part of people’s diets. That’s not the case in the United States, but perhaps it should be. Vox senior correspondent Dylan Matthews explains why eating bugs may be a more environmentally friendly alternative to eating meat, as wel ... Show More
14m 50s
Sep 2023
Eating well without compromising on taste
James Tytko, Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs.London’s latest ULEZ expansion - will it make much difference to air quality?The concerning impacts of poaching, and not just to endangered species.And Dr Chris Sm ... Show More
52m 50s
Oct 2022
Eat Insects, Save the World
Do you like to eat insects? Anne Muir and Liz Waid look at this important food source. Eating insects may even save the world!https://spotlightenglish.com/food-drink/eat-insects-save-the-world/Download our app for Android at http://bit.ly/spotlight-androidDownload our app for iOS ... Show More
14m 11s
Jun 2020
The role of insects in the future of food, with Patrick Crowley
This week, we’re sharing a conversation from a few months ago when we attended (and had a live podcast station) the Global Forum on Innovations for Marginal Envionrments held by ICBA in Dubai; the opening address by Her Excellency Mariam Bint Mohammed Almheiri, the Minister of St ... Show More
12m 5s