The work redesigned how the production of insects as food when located on the high street could present a more sustainable way to produce protein rich food as an alternative to beef, pork and lamb. Importantly mealworms can be produced in the city without the need for large areas of countryside unlike cows, for instance, and they emit fewer greenhouse gases.
Introducing insects into our diets isn't a new idea, but within the Co.Futures project we were keen to investigate the full potential when farming mealworms in our city centres. Therefore we employ the mealworms in a manufacturing process of products to also be sold on the high street.
For us, it was important to begin by getting to know the mealworms, which unlike their name suggests, are in fact larvae that become darking beetles through the process of metamorphosis. A major inspiration for us was this seemingly magical process of metamorphosis. We wanted to create a process that wondered and captured the life-cycle. We started by involving the insect larvae in creating their own tableware to be used in serving them as food.
In the casting process the mealworms are fed by the prototype model of the product which is made out of a flour modelling dough. As they go through their metamorphosis from larvae to beetle, the objects they help create follow a similar process of metamorphosis of matter transforming into new forms as well as becoming a souvenir of the mealworms life-cycle.
Here are some images of the event and piece.
 |
| Michael showing visitors close-ups of the mealworms at work under the microscope Image: Ed (thanks) |
 |
| Mealworms making the moulds whilst they feed. After they clear the moulds we then cast the prototype product. As you can see, the mealworms love this dish/chop-stick stand made by one of our first visitors. |
Thanks to all the visitors who made a prototype product with us and who helped feed the mealworms. We look forward to sharing the results of the process once the insects have finished their work.