Friday, April 07, 2017

Eating grubs

In Burkina Faso in West Africa, shea caterpillars are an important part of the local diet in a country where over 30% of children suffer from chronic malnutrition and 2.7 million people are at risk for food insecurity.

At the moment the caterpillars are only available for a few weeks a year. But with their high levels of protein and micronutrients like iron and zinc, they have the potential to fend off "hidden hunger", as micronutrient deficiency is sometimes called, and change the situation of the poorest people in West Africa, especially women and children.

 Researchers are trying to crack the science behind shea caterpillars and make them available all year round. In the same way they keep chickens in their backyard, the women would be able to keep caterpillars too.

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39480161

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