Jason Drew describes himself as an entrepreneur, public speaker, author and a self-confessed ‘environmental capitalist’. UK born and bred and now living in South Africa, Jason will be in London next week to launch his latest book ‘The Story of the FLY and how it could save the World’.
The fly has a pesky reputation given its ability to carry bacterial germs and cause disease. However, controversially, Jason argues in his new book that the fly is often misunderstood and it could have a role to play in the future sustainability of the planet for the world’s ever increasing population with hungry mouths to feed.
We live in a world with dwindling water and food resources, and a ballooning population that is making scientists and entrepreneur’s alike visit new and sustainable ways in which we can feed an imminent global population of nine billion people.
Farming fly larvae as an alternative animal feed to fish-meal, can deliver proteins and save our seas from being already overfished, which in turn, is a huge global disaster with eco-systemic effects.
The fly has a significant role to play in help saving the planet as the fly larvae feed on waste matter that we are producing in huge quantities, which in itself is a huge global problem, and in the process the larvae cleanses the waste to produce a protein rich animal feed that is the natural food source for chicken and fish. Up to now we have industrialised the production of our food but not the production of animal feed and have instead, over fished our seas to produce fish meal that is expensive and not sustainable.
A single female fly can lay between 750 to over 1,000 eggs per week, which will then hatch into larvae. The harvested larvae are then dried, milled into flake form and packed ready for consumption by livestock. This meal is known as ‘maggot meal’ or ‘magmeal’ in short. So in essence, Drew argues that by farming larvae we can recycle waste nutrients by feeding larvae abattoir waste and turn it into a useful and sustainable product.
Jason argues that the fly could be man’s best friend for the future and introduces the fly as a future hero that could help save the world. How? By recycling waste nutrients and generating sustainable protein to spare the fish in the ocean and feed the ever growing number of people on our planet.
Here’s what some leading authorities have had to say on the book so far:
“By Harnessing the fly’s prolific breeding characteristics and recycling abilities it could be possible to revitalise the global food chain and significantly benefit mankind’s food supply,” David Martin, CEO, Emergent Asset Management
“An amusing look at this extraordinary animal and its potential to create a new industry that could save our seas,” Kevin James, CEO Global Carbon Exchange.
“Interesting, funny and a great read. Ingenious way to limit our impact on the oceans of the world. Jason Drew is the real ‘Lord of the Flies’,” Jeunesse Park, CEO and Founder, Food and Trees for Africa.
Rather than being a mere pest, the fly, according to Jason Drew, are pioneers in our modern world – making medical miracles and even inspiring aerodynamic design. They set fashion trends, travel in space and have the potential to do so much more.