this story begins in Madagascar no not this Madagascar this Madagascar Mara in
this Madagascar this Madagascar Mara in
this Madagascar this Madagascar Mara in 2013 Madagascar was hit by one of the
2013 Madagascar was hit by one of the
2013 Madagascar was hit by one of the worst locust invasions had seen in over
worst locust invasions had seen in over
worst locust invasions had seen in over a decade Madagascar is one of the
a decade Madagascar is one of the
a decade Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world whose
poorest countries in the world whose
poorest countries in the world whose already vulnerable populations are often
already vulnerable populations are often
already vulnerable populations are often and regularly hit by floods drought and
and regularly hit by floods drought and
and regularly hit by floods drought and famine needless to say they could have
famine needless to say they could have
famine needless to say they could have used a break but climate change doesn’t
used a break but climate change doesn’t
used a break but climate change doesn’t give you a break to give you some
give you a break to give you some
give you a break to give you some background for a decade I worked as an
background for a decade I worked as an
background for a decade I worked as an operation specialist in and with some of
operation specialist in and with some of
operation specialist in and with some of the poorest countries in the world right
the poorest countries in the world right
the poorest countries in the world right such as Haiti right after they were hit
such as Haiti right after they were hit
such as Haiti right after they were hit by natural catastrophes with the United
by natural catastrophes with the United
by natural catastrophes with the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Nations Food and Agriculture
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization since I was little
Organization since I was little
Organization since I was little having grown up in sub-saharan Africa
having grown up in sub-saharan Africa
having grown up in sub-saharan Africa and having seen the harsh conditions
and having seen the harsh conditions
and having seen the harsh conditions that many populations lived through I
that many populations lived through I
that many populations lived through I knew I wanted to make an impact no
knew I wanted to make an impact no
knew I wanted to make an impact no matter how small given my grades in math
matter how small given my grades in math
matter how small given my grades in math and science I was clearly not destined
and science I was clearly not destined
and science I was clearly not destined to be a doctor or a mathematician or a
to be a doctor or a mathematician or a
to be a doctor or a mathematician or a scientist or or a banker so what was
scientist or or a banker so what was
scientist or or a banker so what was left for me jumping on opportunities to
left for me jumping on opportunities to
left for me jumping on opportunities to work with some of the most reputable
work with some of the most reputable
work with some of the most reputable experts in the world in Disaster
experts in the world in Disaster
experts in the world in Disaster Response and through which I developed
Response and through which I developed
Response and through which I developed my own skill set implementing in very
my own skill set implementing in very
my own skill set implementing in very hard conditions their wild ideas by
hard conditions their wild ideas by
hard conditions their wild ideas by providing operational support so let me
providing operational support so let me
providing operational support so let me tell you about this wild idea that I had
tell you about this wild idea that I had
tell you about this wild idea that I had feeding insects to fish and feed and to
feeding insects to fish and feed and to
feeding insects to fish and feed and to fish and check
fish and check
fish and check just in case you didn’t notice my
just in case you didn’t notice my
just in case you didn’t notice my sarcastic tone my wild idea is really
sarcastic tone my wild idea is really
sarcastic tone my wild idea is really quite simple it’s giving nature back to
quite simple it’s giving nature back to
quite simple it’s giving nature back to nature while I was in Madagascar my
nature while I was in Madagascar my
nature while I was in Madagascar my husband a grammy-nominated chemical
husband a grammy-nominated chemical
husband a grammy-nominated chemical engineer came to visit me a couple of
engineer came to visit me a couple of
engineer came to visit me a couple of times while I was busy chasing the
times while I was busy chasing the
times while I was busy chasing the locusts he was busy having wild ideas
locusts he was busy having wild ideas
locusts he was busy having wild ideas and looking for ways to stop chasing me
and looking for ways to stop chasing me
and looking for ways to stop chasing me he knew my passion for my work and my
he knew my passion for my work and my
he knew my passion for my work and my passion for him so he started pitching
passion for him so he started pitching
passion for him so he started pitching me ideas on he started pitching me ideas
me ideas on he started pitching me ideas
me ideas on he started pitching me ideas that would combine both of our personal
that would combine both of our personal
that would combine both of our personal and professional ambitions and that
and professional ambitions and that
and professional ambitions and that would also allow us to live and work
would also allow us to live and work
would also allow us to live and work together during the same time in 2013 a
together during the same time in 2013 a
together during the same time in 2013 a phase report on edible insects as food
phase report on edible insects as food
phase report on edible insects as food and feed was released promoting the
and feed was released promoting the
and feed was released promoting the beneficial use of insects and their
beneficial use of insects and their
beneficial use of insects and their potential to alleviate hunger in the
potential to alleviate hunger in the
potential to alleviate hunger in the world given the context we started
world given the context we started
world given the context we started researching the beneficial use of
researching the beneficial use of
researching the beneficial use of insects as a source of protein for both
insects as a source of protein for both
insects as a source of protein for both humans and animals but also as a
humans and animals but also as a
humans and animals but also as a solution to perhaps humanity’s greatest
solution to perhaps humanity’s greatest
solution to perhaps humanity’s greatest challenges in 2050 there will be more
challenges in 2050 there will be more
challenges in 2050 there will be more than 9 billion people on this planet in
than 9 billion people on this planet in
than 9 billion people on this planet in Africa alone population will double
Africa alone population will double
Africa alone population will double right now the demand for animal protein
right now the demand for animal protein
right now the demand for animal protein is booming due to developing countries
is booming due to developing countries
is booming due to developing countries becoming wealthier this is clearly
becoming wealthier this is clearly
becoming wealthier this is clearly putting more strain on our ecosystem
putting more strain on our ecosystem
putting more strain on our ecosystem through land clearing energy and water
through land clearing energy and water
through land clearing energy and water use clearly scaling up our current
use clearly scaling up our current
use clearly scaling up our current agricultural system is not the way to go
agricultural system is not the way to go
agricultural system is not the way to go with this in mind we decided to create
with this in mind we decided to create
with this in mind we decided to create next protein a french tunisian Agrotech
next protein a french tunisian Agrotech
next protein a french tunisian Agrotech startup that produces insect based
startup that produces insect based
startup that produces insect based protein for animal feed
protein for animal feed
protein for animal feed our mission is to address land and
our mission is to address land and
our mission is to address land and resource scarcity to feed a rising
resource scarcity to feed a rising
resource scarcity to feed a rising population with almost no carbon
population with almost no carbon
population with almost no carbon footprint wanting to create wanting to
footprint wanting to create wanting to
footprint wanting to create wanting to create a an eco responsible company we
create a an eco responsible company we
create a an eco responsible company we knew that we couldn’t take food away
knew that we couldn’t take food away
knew that we couldn’t take food away from humans and giving give them to
from humans and giving give them to
from humans and giving give them to insects
insects
insects we knew the importance of our choice of
we knew the importance of our choice of
we knew the importance of our choice of insect we needed to find an insect we
insect we needed to find an insect we
insect we needed to find an insect we needed to find an insect the hat that
needed to find an insect the hat that
needed to find an insect the hat that was beneficial that had high yield but
was beneficial that had high yield but
was beneficial that had high yield but that also allowed us to participate in
that also allowed us to participate in
that also allowed us to participate in the levy ating food waste today one
the levy ating food waste today one
the levy ating food waste today one third of global food production ends up
third of global food production ends up
third of global food production ends up in landfills with our innovative process
in landfills with our innovative process
in landfills with our innovative process we found a way to reintegrate wasted
we found a way to reintegrate wasted
we found a way to reintegrate wasted protein through the harvesting and
protein through the harvesting and
protein through the harvesting and rearing of insect larvae on what’s
rearing of insect larvae on what’s
rearing of insect larvae on what’s otherwise unconsumed food and
otherwise unconsumed food and
otherwise unconsumed food and reintegrated into the food chain we are
reintegrated into the food chain we are
reintegrated into the food chain we are able to produce as much protein in 100
able to produce as much protein in 100
able to produce as much protein in 100 square metres as with insect farming as
square metres as with insect farming as
square metres as with insect farming as 100 hectares with a soybean field that’s
100 hectares with a soybean field that’s
100 hectares with a soybean field that’s 10,000 times less how do we do that we
10,000 times less how do we do that we
10,000 times less how do we do that we harvest our protein every day our insect
harvest our protein every day our insect
harvest our protein every day our insect of choices lifecycle is less than a
of choices lifecycle is less than a
of choices lifecycle is less than a month and we use vertical farming to
month and we use vertical farming to
month and we use vertical farming to minimize space use biotech green tech
minimize space use biotech green tech
minimize space use biotech green tech all of these fancy words really they
all of these fancy words really they
all of these fancy words really they scared us at first after all what did we
scared us at first after all what did we
scared us at first after all what did we know about insects what did we know
know about insects what did we know
know about insects what did we know about industrializing insect rearing
about industrializing insect rearing
about industrializing insect rearing about green technology we were starting
about green technology we were starting
about green technology we were starting from scratch in my parent’s garage and
from scratch in my parent’s garage and
from scratch in my parent’s garage and they
they
they were delighted by the way after much
were delighted by the way after much
were delighted by the way after much trial and error we rely and getting more
trial and error we rely and getting more
trial and error we rely and getting more familiar with the the sector that we
familiar with the the sector that we
familiar with the the sector that we were in we were certain that we were on
were in we were certain that we were on
were in we were certain that we were on the right path and have since achieved
the right path and have since achieved
the right path and have since achieved many milestones the purpose of the story
many milestones the purpose of the story
many milestones the purpose of the story is really quite simple before achieving
is really quite simple before achieving
is really quite simple before achieving Elon Musk’s wild idea to go and invade
Elon Musk’s wild idea to go and invade
Elon Musk’s wild idea to go and invade Mars we still have this planet to take
Mars we still have this planet to take
Mars we still have this planet to take care of with smart technology and we’ll
care of with smart technology and we’ll
care of with smart technology and we’ll using system whilst using the resources
using system whilst using the resources
using system whilst using the resources that the earth has for us we’re able to
that the earth has for us we’re able to
that the earth has for us we’re able to tackle climate change and food
tackle climate change and food
tackle climate change and food insecurity technology of today cannot be
insecurity technology of today cannot be
insecurity technology of today cannot be that of yesterday the stakes are higher
that of yesterday the stakes are higher
that of yesterday the stakes are higher and they’re different we often think
and they’re different we often think
and they’re different we often think that technology is inaccessible to us
that technology is inaccessible to us
that technology is inaccessible to us but more often than not it’s much more
but more often than not it’s much more
but more often than not it’s much more down-to-earth and one would think while
down-to-earth and one would think while
down-to-earth and one would think while I was in Madagascar observing the
I was in Madagascar observing the
I was in Madagascar observing the locusts and their amazing capacity to
locusts and their amazing capacity to
locusts and their amazing capacity to multiply it such as a fast rate it
multiply it such as a fast rate it
multiply it such as a fast rate it inspired us to use technology that’s
inspired us to use technology that’s
inspired us to use technology that’s already available in nature and create
already available in nature and create
already available in nature and create an innovative environmentally-friendly
an innovative environmentally-friendly
an innovative environmentally-friendly industry from it this is the basis of
industry from it this is the basis of
industry from it this is the basis of biomimicry combining technology and
biomimicry combining technology and
biomimicry combining technology and nature this is how we get Michael
nature this is how we get Michael
nature this is how we get Michael Phelps’s swimsuit inspired by sharks
Phelps’s swimsuit inspired by sharks
Phelps’s swimsuit inspired by sharks like shark skin how we get wind turbines
like shark skin how we get wind turbines
like shark skin how we get wind turbines inspired by whale fins and how we get
inspired by whale fins and how we get
inspired by whale fins and how we get airplane wings inspired by Birds
for example photovoltaic energy wind
for example photovoltaic energy wind energy biomass conversion all of these
energy biomass conversion all of these
energy biomass conversion all of these wild ideas they have one thing in common
wild ideas they have one thing in common
wild ideas they have one thing in common they sustainably use natural resources
they sustainably use natural resources
they sustainably use natural resources without polluting the planet to create
without polluting the planet to create
without polluting the planet to create clean energy
today we’re in Tunisia on the beautiful
today we’re in Tunisia on the beautiful continent that is Africa land of
continent that is Africa land of
continent that is Africa land of resources and opportunity and today we
resources and opportunity and today we
resources and opportunity and today we have an opportunity to improve our
have an opportunity to improve our
have an opportunity to improve our energy sufficiency by investing in this
energy sufficiency by investing in this
energy sufficiency by investing in this kind of technology as entrepreneurs who
kind of technology as entrepreneurs who
kind of technology as entrepreneurs who wanted to tackle Agrotech and green tech
wanted to tackle Agrotech and green tech
wanted to tackle Agrotech and green tech and biotech and be successful we had to
and biotech and be successful we had to
and biotech and be successful we had to believe in our wild idea in our
believe in our wild idea in our
believe in our wild idea in our innovation in order to convince
innovation in order to convince
innovation in order to convince scientists and engineers and and
scientists and engineers and and
scientists and engineers and and investors to adhere to our project and
investors to adhere to our project and
investors to adhere to our project and support us in the development of our
support us in the development of our
support us in the development of our technology being in this field is really
technology being in this field is really
technology being in this field is really not about being a hero it’s just being a
not about being a hero it’s just being a
not about being a hero it’s just being a responsible global citizen that
responsible global citizen that
responsible global citizen that understands the urgency to change the
understands the urgency to change the
understands the urgency to change the way agriculture and food production are
way agriculture and food production are
way agriculture and food production are currently being done tackling climate
currently being done tackling climate
currently being done tackling climate change is not reserved for NGOs or for
change is not reserved for NGOs or for
change is not reserved for NGOs or for governments simple citizens like you and
governments simple citizens like you and
governments simple citizens like you and me who might not initially be technology
me who might not initially be technology
me who might not initially be technology savvy but who are willing to take risks
savvy but who are willing to take risks
savvy but who are willing to take risks who are willing to surround themselves
who are willing to surround themselves
who are willing to surround themselves with the right people can create
with the right people can create
with the right people can create business models that protect our
business models that protect our
business models that protect our environment and contribute contribute to
environment and contribute contribute to
environment and contribute contribute to making this a better world for our
making this a better world for our
making this a better world for our future thank
future thank
future thank [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
”
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