DON’T BUG ME, EAT ME!

DID YOU KNOW?

MEALWORMS PROVIDE MORE CALCIUM THAN MILK, MORE B12 THAN SALMON, AND MORE IRON THAN SPINACH, IN ADDITION TO BEING JAM-PACKED WITH ALL 9 ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS.

FARMING INSECTS USES BETWEEN 50-90% LESS LAND PER KG OF PROTEIN AND 40-80% LESS ANIMAL FEED PER KG OF EDIBLE WEIGHT WHILST SIMULTANEOUSLY PRODUCING 1,000-2700 LESS GHGES (GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS).

Mr Bug is an ambitious entovegan business venture taking shape in sunny Devon, a bold vision with invaluable government support (farming transformation fund) to breed plump, nutrient-dense mealworms in one of the most beautiful regions of Britain, initially prioritising the dog treat sector before targeting human-themed products (protein powder) longer term.

Mealworms, for anyone not in the know, are the Rolls Royce of nutritious, edible grubs, not only providing an appealing nutty twang for your dog but a nutritious war chest of healthful goodness that would be the envy of any well-balanced treat.

Now it would be churlish not to mention that other bug-themed dog foods and treats exist, but for the most part, these are made using black fly larvae, a staple of traditional animal feed and another ‘nutritional powerhouse’ of a grub. The problem is their bitter taste, which some might say is unpleasant. More importantly, they’re overflowing with unwelcome saturated fats!

From a common-sense perspective, bug nutrition is unavoidable down the line as traditional farming can neither keep pace with humanrace expansion nor do so in an environmentally friendly manner. At this moment in time, 30% of all intensively farmed animals are bred specifically with dog bowl consumption in mind. Recent research showed that the environmental impact of total pet food equated to a land mass twice the size of the UK!

One of the many pluses of Mr Bug is that it pro-actively champions the circular economy with its eager-to-please mealworms fed on Cornish bran, a hitherto useless by-product of local wheat milling, which is madness as it’s both a digestible and healthy mono-protein. The resulting frass (that’s mealworm poo to you & me) is a nutritious, all-natural fertiliser that supports subsequent wheat harvests.

It’s a fortunate truth that thanks to the plethora of new dog foods that have joined the fray in recent years (BARF, organic, no added grain, superior gut health) that there’s more choice than ever for the inquisitive, dare we say finicky ‘pet parents’ who are not inspired by the old-school, conveyor belt dog meals on offer.

Unfortunately, dog treats have not kept pace, which is odd considering that 1 in 3 dogs in the UK are morbidly obese. As with humans, there is this deluded rationale that a snacking treat is an occasional/frequent reward that can be made of pretty much anything. Albeit these days, it’s perfectly plausible for a treat to not only taste amazing but be made of ‘real food’ and devoid of synthetic nasties, sugar, salt and lazy filler grains.

In its current incarnation there are 4 Mr Bug Bite flavour options: The Fruity One - Made with apple, cranberries and honey. The Nutty One - Made with peanuts and turmeric.

The Cheesy One - Made with beetroot and vegetarian cheese. The Veggie One – Made with sweet potato, parsnip & carrot.

N.B. A doggy protein bar is a ‘priority’ innovation for Spring 23

Mr Bug is yet another one of those pandemic-born initiatives that is quickly snowballing into something so much bigger than perhaps was initially intended, a brand ridiculously (yet rightly) proud of its Devon rural roots.

This business creates jobs (not vast but steadily growing numbers) in a part of our island that historically struggles to foster meaningful youth employment opportunities in a sustainable, eco-friendly sector.

There have also been collaborations with nearby universities, providing them with meaningful high-tech problems for them to decipher and solve – e.g., the University of West England robotics department has created a network of sensors to help monitor CO2, heat and humidity in addition to ensuring that the all-important cleaning processes that are robotically monitored!

In 2022, in its first 4 months of trading, Mr Bug secured a prestigious Gold Nourish award, an award historically confined to humanorientated products, an award that focuses specifically on nutritional integrity and ingredient quality! In 2023 Mr Bug will make its next big strides, taking part in Product Guru’s pet food huddle and, most importantly, exhibiting at Crufts and exporting to insect-savvy markets, including North America, Scandinavia, and the Far East.

In 2021 10,000 metric tonnes of insect protein were created worldwide. Conservative estimates suggest that by 2030 this number will exceed 500,000 tonnes.

Mr Bug treats are ideally suited to those dog-friendly pubs, hotels, delis, cafes and garden centres looking to go the extra yard!