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‘Gateway Bug’ offers novel solutions to world food challenges

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On Sunday evening, the Bonita Springs International Film Festival will screen The Gateway Bug, an independent feature length documentary about the future of food, feeding humanity in an uncertain age and the edible insect industry.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization warns that current global food production needs to double by 2050. It’s an almost impossible task. Moreover, change to the way we eat and feed people is inevitable and urgent given that industrialized agriculture sector consumes 92% of all freshwater around the world and animal agriculture is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions. Entomophagy may offer a partial solution to these and associated problems.

Entomophagy is the technical term for eating insects. It is currently practiced by 80% of countries on Earth and offers countless advantages over traditional protein sources like beef. Entomophagy not currently popular in the United States, but an industry is evolving nonetheless in North America to produce insects for human consumption.

It is this industry that The Gateway Bug explores.

After interviewing more than 50 experts in the nascent industry, filmmakers Johanna B. Kelly, who directs, and Cameron Marshad (right), who served as editor and cinematographer, believe they can convert viewers into activists.

“The film begins with a rush of frightening statistics about the dangers surrounding the future of food, made entertaining by their choice of music: Pollution by Tom Lehrer,” writes reviewer Susan Lawler in The Conversation in a 2017 post. “Within the first 10 minutes they have brought the audience up to speed on the problem with our food systems. They spend the next hour and a quarter listening to the people who are working on potential solutions and providing detail about the challenges they face. Surprisingly, convincing people to understand the potential health benefits and to like the taste of insects does not seem to be one of those challenges. There are no signs of disgust on the faces of people eating insects for the first time, who say they taste like chips or popcorn.”

But decide for yourself. Kevin Bachhuber is flying in from Kenya to discuss the film, and he’s bringing samples. Kevin is prominently featured in the film. Charismatic, passionate and totally entertaining, he has been featured on TedXTalk and speaks around the world on sustainable farming practices on our planet.

The film screens at 6:00 p.m. in the Moe Auditorium. Following the film and ensuing Q&A, stick around and join Kevin and other VIP guests for the Finale Award Party. It’s an event you don’t want to miss!

January 26, 2018.

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