Edible Insect Ambassador and world renowned chef comes to the Hinterland
IN an incredible coup for Mooloolah River Landcare (MRL), globally renowned New York Chef, Joseph Yoon, will headline MRL’s October 13-15 Sunshine Coast BioBlitz program. Joseph, who is also an edible insect ambassador, will provide a limited seat presentation and dinner ‘The Joy of Cooking (Bugs)’ on Saturday October 14 at MRL’s Glenview site.
MRL BioBlitz organiser, Jessica Raintree, said she was absolutely astounded to have such a high profile and internationally famous foodie and presenter willing to come and participate in BioBlitz. “We are over-the moon excited! It just so happened that Joseph was touring Australia and staying for a week in Brisbane with one of the entomologist’s who was leading workshops and field walks at our BioBlitz program, and so he said he would be happy to come up and give us a presentation too!,” she said. Joseph Yoon is a globally recognised spokesperson for entomophagy (eating insects), and his work addresses the challenges of food security, environmentalism, health, nutrition, workforce activation, and sustainability. The founder of Brooklyn Bugs, a company he established in 2017 to normalise edible insects as a sustainable food choice, Joseph shares the incredible potential of not only edible insects, but the burgeoning innovation in ‘Insect Agriculture’ to create resilient solutions for global food systems.
“We are currently transforming a global mindset towards the acceptance of edible insects, and historically defining Insect Agriculture for humanity,” he said. Jessica said with Queensland’s strict border protection laws, the edible bugs for the special feast were being sourced by a special company in Adelaide that breeds insects for human consumption.
“This guy is a really big deal, and attendees will enjoy a fun and unique ‘mind-widening’ evening that might even encourage them to broaden their palate,” she said.
The Sunshine Coast BioBlitz is a three-weekend festival of discovery and recording of our unique natural world to help protect what we have now and into the future. The festival is hosted by three leading environmental groups on the Coast and is happening in Glenview, Maroochydore, and Maleny between October 13-30. To find out more, visit https://ecollaboration.org.au/project/sunshine-coast-bioblitz-2023/
Main image: New York Chef Joseph Yoon with some of his culinary creations
