UK projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zimbabwe are asking rural people to grow more insects
RT – UK-funded relief projects in Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are encouraging hungry people in these African countries to introduce more nutrient-dense insects into their diet.
As the Guardian reported on Friday, agencies are currently spending $57,000 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and $346,000 in Zimbabwe on testing the insects’ diets with the aim of introducing them to local residents.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the initiative explores the benefits of eating African caterpillars, migratory locusts, and black soldier flies. Note that there are about 23 species of insects, including termites and cockroaches, that are already consumed in the South Kivu region. However, the population consumes it opportunistically and collects it according to the season.
The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, a UK-based charity, is now pushing Congolese to start industrially growing insects in a bid to end the region’s famine problems.
In Zimbabwe, another aid agency is looking at ways to use mopane worms in porridge served in schools. The Guardian notes that these sticky green caterpillars, which transform into emperor butterflies, are actually harvested for consumption on vegetation during rainy seasons.
The project aims to develop insect-infested porridge to feed poor children in Gwanda, southern Zimbabwe, and Harare, Zimbabwe. The agency says this dish will combine locally grown mopane worms with grains and fruit, and offer all the essential vitamins and minerals such as phosphorous, potassium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, and sodium as well as vitamins B1 and B2.
the doctor. The introduction of the insect-based meal is just the first phase of the project, which will also conduct randomized trials to see if the dish has an effect on children’s performance in school and benefits their health, Alberto Fiore, professor of chemistry and food technology who is leading the project in Zimbabwe, told the Guardian.
Both projects in Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which is part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
A UKRI spokesperson told the Guardian that the organization hoped that funding such projects would “benefit citizens around the world, regardless of their economic situation” and noted the environmental benefits of consuming an insect-based diet.
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Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.