In the future, we’re going to be eating bugs. I think that’s the real message of schmeat and the Eat-a-Bug cookbook. Oh, and that thing, up there. It’s called the Farm 432, and it promises to turn 1 gram of black fly maggots larvae into 2.4 kilograms of high-protein, low-fat black fly maggots larvae every 432 hours. That’s more than 5 lbs. of meat protein in a little over 2 weeks … which is every bit as terrifying as it is reassuring, you know?

For those of you not paying attention, we’re growing people faster than we’re growing their food supply. If things don’t change, it’ll be bad. So, we have a few hard choices to make, and one of those choices is going to be where we get our protein from. I, for one, plan on vegetarians (it just seems easier). Those of you who don’t think of your neighbors as potential deli-meat, however, may have to cut back on the McBurgers and start looking at cuter, cuddlier animals. Or, you know, maggots larvae.

Here’s a handy-dandy chart for you to relate to …

… see how inefficient that cow is? I mean, it’s one thing if you’re feeding it grass and hay and stuff that humans can’t/won’t eat, but the corn, soy, what, and oats that go into most cattle feeds can be better spent on humans, as far as I’m concerned.

Back to the Farm 432 insect harvester, though. Its makers have this to say …

By 2050 meat production will have to increase by 50%. Considering that we already use one third of croplands for the production of animal feed, we will have to look for alternative food sources and alternative ways of growing it. Farm 432 enables people to turn against the dysfunctional system of current meat production by growing their own protein source at home. After 432 hours, 1 gram of black soldier fly eggs turn into 2.4 kilogram of larvae protein, larvae that self-harvest and fall clean and ready to eat into a harvest bucket. Black soldier fly adults don´t eat, the larvae can be fed on bio waste, therefore the production almost costs no water or CO2. Black soldier fly larvae are one of the most efficient protein converters in insects, containing up to 42% of protein, a lot of calcium and amino acids.

… and they’re quick to follow-up their maggot-eating talk with another helpful infographic comparing the nutritional benefits of choosing maggots (sorry, “larvae”) over beef.

What do you think? Is it enough to make you give it a try? Do you think your grandmother’s pasta sauce recipe would be better off with maggots in it? Would it be worth doing just to huck handfuls of these things at people? Check out the “how it works” video for the Farm 432, below, and let us know what it would take for you to put one of these things in your kitchen in the comments.

Sources | Photos: Behance, Geekologie.