Insect and Hydroponic Farming in Africa (The New Circular Food Economy)

While current agri-food production models rely on abundant supplies of water, energy, and arable land past practices point toward more affordable and sustainable paths. Different forms of insect farming and soilless crop farming, or hydroponics, have existed for centuries. In this report, the authors make a persuasive case that frontier agriculture, particularly insect and hydroponic farming, can complement conventional agriculture. As the report shows, insect and hydroponic farming can create jobs, diversify livelihoods, improve nutrition, and provide many other benefits in African and fragile, conflictaffected countries. Together with other investments in climate-smart agriculture, these technologies are part of a promising menu of solutions that can help countries move their land, food, water, and agriculture systems toward greater sustainability. This book is the World Bank's first attempt to look at insect and hydroponic farming as possible solutions to the world's climate and food and nutrition security crisis and may represent a new chapter in the Bank's evolving efforts to help feed and sustain the planet.