Biteback is a nutrient-dense, environmentally friendly substitute for palm oil, which is causing mass deforestation in Southeast Asia. The alternative? Insects.
Biteback has developed a process to extract oil from edible insects. Insects require little feed, water or land, and produce almost no greenhouse gases – a much more sustainable alternative to palm oil. In just one year, insects yield almost 38 times more oil than oil palms do using the same amount of land. As well as being eco-friendly, insect oil is healthy. And with oil present in most industrial food, there are health gains to be made. Insect oil is rich in healthy fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins, low in cholesterol, and does not require pesticides or fertilisers – a win for people and the planet.
This solution was featured in Alternative Food Sources market of the 2018 Global Opportunity Report, and was selected based on the criteria of that report.
How the Global Goals are addressed
Zero hunger
Insect oil is rich in nutrients, such as iron. Eating insect oil can therefore supply the world with a vital nutrient and alleviate anemia caused by iron deficiency.
Responsible consumption and production
Palm oil is found in 50% of all packaged items. Switching to insect oil will minimise the use of natural resources and allow more sustainable oil production.
Life on land
A hectare of land can produce either four tonnes of palm oil or 150 tonnes of insect oil in a year. Choosing insect oil reduces both deforestation and the loss of biodiversity.
Biteback
Biteback has developed a process to extract oil from edible insects. This is a much more sustainable option to palm oil – 150 tonnes of insect oil can be produced in one hectare of land per year, compared to just 4 tonnes a year in the same area.
Global Goals addressed
