Seymour Alternative Farming Expo: A ton of potential in crickets

PAULA Pownall and Amanda Abou Rjeily are on a mission to change the way people react to and imagine insects.

Crickets farmed by Grubs Up insect farm.

PAULA Pownall and Amanda Abou Rjeily are on a mission to change the way people react to and imagine insects.

The two friends and directors of Grubs Up insect farm sell certified organic cricket powder, cricket dukkha, cricket spice grinders and whole roasted crickets.

“Insects and crickets are 65 per cent protein,” Paula said. “We live in a really lucky country; we don’t need to eat insects, but our sources of protein, whether that’s piggeries or cows, all need a viable source of protein for their production.”

Amanda Abou Rjeily opts to use the crickets for human consumption — her family’s breakfast.

“I mostly use the cricket powder … whether that is in a smoothie, breakfast muffins or pancakes,” she said. “I also like to sprinkle whole roasted crickets over our salads and pasta dishes to add a nutrient-packed crunch.”

The idea to begin farming crickets came in 2013 when Paula read a UN document about insects’ prospects for feed and food security.

“Paula took us out for dinner one night and said, ‘I’ve got this crazy idea’,” Amanda said.

That “crazy idea” led to the development of Grubs Up insect farm at Coolup, near Perth.

Grubs Up grows crickets in reusable boxes on half a hectare.

Amanda said one of the great advantages of insect farming was that they could be housed in a relatively small area.

“This made sense to us with our available land,” she said.

Paula and Amanda look forward to travelling across the country to share their knowledge about insect farming and how others can do it, whether it be for human or animal feed.

“I am excited to share what we do with the public,” Amanda said.

“While we are here to share our ideas, we always learn something and go home with new ideas from our conversations. Anybody can do it, they’ve just got to have the right environment.”

Crickets grow best in warm humid conditions, similar to those at the northern tip of Australia; however they can be farmed anywhere if the growing facility is indoors in a controlled environment.

Paula will be presenting on February 16 at 10am and February 17 and 18 at 11am.

Grubs Up will also have a stall where you can taste and purchase their products.