BUG?
This project aims to normalise insect consumption in western societies to combat the increasing pressure on global resources. In acknowledging the complexities in altering the mindsets of a population, the project investigates 3 design probes.
BUG BEER & RECIPES: Exploring a New Food Source.
THE CONTAINER: A possible solution to current unsustainable production methods.
BUG BOOK: Photography probing a cultural embracing of this new food source.
A New Food Source:
INSECT’S VERSATILITY IN COOKING Aside from the environmental and scientific benefits that insects can provide, they also have the potential to broaden our understanding of what food is and can be. Insect consumption, or entomophagy, is a relatively unexplored field of gastronomy in which people can indulge in a new style of consuming. To the right is a group of friends confronting their initial ideas of insect consumption and exploring the root of the stigmatisation behind entomophagy.
Would You Eat Insects? Adding locusts to a bolognaise sauce for extra protein.
Fried fruit beetle to finish off a starter dish prepared at Blackfriars Restaurant.
Chocolate covered mealworm, exploring their potential in desserts.
Beer made using insect powder added during the boiling of hops.
Have a look at some more experiments with insects! Click here.
The start of this experimentation began at Blackfriars Restaurant and continued at home. This process was vital in understanding how best to incorporate insects in to dishes to be desired. The best way to showcase insects as food would be an immersive dining experience, expected to happen post-lockdown.
A New Food Source Outcome 1: RECIPE BOOK
Amidst the air of lock down, people have been branching out and learning new skills from home. This new level of intrigue prompted the outcome to take the form of a recipe book. This cookbook is a collection of recipes offering a smooth transition in to ways insects can be included in cooking at home.
Industry validators The Barge House Check out the full recipe book! Click here.
“Excited for event in near future, the beer is a great selling point.” Blackfriars Restaurant “Interesting approach to integrating insects in to society. A very enjoyable process.” Firebrick Brewery “Unique marketing approach with BUG Beer. Very nicely closes the loop between industries.” A New Food Source Outcome 2: BUG BEER
Harnessing the alcohol market is an alternative approach to engaging people in the world of insect consumption, beyond food. This BUG beer is less about the product and more about promoting a talking point which offers positive conversation about entomophagy in general.
For more info about the brewing process, click here!
Photography for Social Change: EXPLORATION
The aim of this exploration was to understand whether or not photography can help build a relationship between humans and a food source. Photography of insects at a high quality has extended this building potential to the growing understanding of insects for bio-inspired design.
Photography for insect’s as art.
42MP Photography for contemporary entomology
24MP
Classic photography for Education
The images have been captured using a Sony A7r II which takes 42MP photos. All of the images and image stacks have been shot in raw and then edited in Adobe Photoshop. To gain the depth in the images, multiple photos have been taken between the nearest and furthest focal points. An image stacking focus rail has been used to do this smoothly. There is great potential for these images to be implemented in to multiple scenarios offering a diverse range of talking points and opportunity.
This section of the project started out with a few industry contacts which quickly developed into opportunities with real scope and commercial value. By learning from and seeing things that haven’t been seen before, there is room for new understanding of how to harness the technology of nature. BUG Book was a natural development to the project. It was initially for personal record of images. However, it became apparent that a lookbook would be of value to multiple industries, connecting art and science. Photography will continue with Taxidermy Artistry to capture 61 specimen samples. The image collection developed from this will boast it’s own design philosophy.
Photography for Social Change Outcome: BUG BOOK
Industry validators The barge House: “A great concept that would beautifully suit an exhibition style display.” Taxidermy Artistry “The photography offers a new way of viewing my products. I can see this being developed in to a valuable Lookbook.”
National Geographic **This project is currently being reviewed by a journalist at National Geographic**
Check out the full photography Lookbook! Click here.
This lookbook merges the traditional qualities of classic entomology, with modern technology and a flair of artistry. Each of the sections provide a different purpose and feeling towards the imagery, provoking questions and personal reflection.
Sustainable Food Production: RESEARCH
• Current farming and food production methods will not be suitable to support the growing population. • For the most part, the food production web is complex and hidden. • There has been an increase in shortened ‘farm to fork’ systems being practiced, particularly within cities.
Square Roots Vertical farm in shipping containers.
Homemade Oat substrate mealworm farm
Beetles over mesh for eggs to drop through.
• Insects offer a plentiful protein alternative to meat.
Sustainable Food Production Outcome: THE PROCESSOR
The processor challenges current farming methods and offers an alternative to the way we produce protein.
Zoom in here for more information!
The unit is comprised of 16 belts vertically stacked. These belts take the insects along a total distance of 136 metres at 0.06 metres/ hour for a period of 3 months, right to the point of harvest. Staggering this continuous journey allows for 24/7 production. This insect processor is able to offer a closed loop production cycle, as well as being the connection for multiple industries.
PLANT FARMING
BIO WASTE
FRASS
HUMAN FOOD
GRAIN
LIVE STOCK
BREWERS GRAIN
BEETLES
BREWERY
Sustainable Food Production Outcome:
Spent Coffee Grounds Restaurant Waste
Brewers Grain
THE PROCESSOR
Cook with Product
Brewery Insect Processor
Deliver Product BU
G
Package Product Beetles G
BU
Frass (fertiliser)
BUG BEER
Industry validators
This insect processor has formed a genuine sustainable link between food production and the alcohol industry. Mealworms require a substrate to live in and feed from. This is comprised of spent coffee grounds, restaurant waste and brewers grain. At the end of the production line frass is output as crop fertiliser, mealworm product can be sold and the beetles can be utilised in beer manufacture, closing the loop to two cycles.
ARRK: “Well constructed and viable design. Good attention to detail for a very feasible concept.” Horizon: Have a look at the full container breakdown here!
“The complex would hold benefit to multiple industries with genuine connections.” Sustainable Food Production: COW VS CONTAINER
1 14688 kg/year This is a representation of how much ‘meat’ is produced each year by one container processor. It is equivalent to the amount of meat produced by 70 cows in one year.
Check out the other comparisons! Click here.
70 Cows
BUG Boxes: CONTAINER COMPLEX
Encapsulating the three design probes is this container complex which houses facilities for research, production, social space and dining. This allows the consumers to immerse themselves to the world of insects and truly indulge in these new experiences. The kitchen will host cooking classes for those interested in cooking insects at home. The gallery is a space to educate and inspire people on the biomimicry potential of insects and the on-site lab will ensure production is up to date.
Check out the full breakdown of the container complex. Click here!
Production and research facility. Gallery, restaurant and production units.
Including all of the supporting industries in one space is a beneficial aid to expanding the insect industry in a well supported way. This allows for the relatively new industry to form its own web of sustainable connections rather than slotting back into the current one. Ultimately this project has addressed the challenges in changing mindsets as well offering several intertwined outcomes, each supporting and promoting insect consumption and involvement in society.