S1E3: Visit to Windsor Nature Park: Can insects in SG's backyard be foraged?

Love or loathe them, could insects also become a food source in
the wider context of the global population?


Synopsis (headphones recommended): Green Trails is a 4-part
environment podcast special for 2024 where The Straits Times hits
the ground with experts.


"Can this be eaten?” is an oft repeated question that every
nature guide is familiar with.


In July, Singapore approved 16 species of insects for human
consumption, to the delight of sustainable food firms and disgust
of some Singaporeans.


But can bugs one day whet mainstream appetites like sambal
stingray, a smokey South-east Asian dish crafted from the
creature once considered as a “trash fish”?


In this third episode of Green Trails, our team speaks to members
of the Entomological Network of Singapore, a group of insect
researchers and hobbyists, about the stories of insects in the
city-state and whether these creatures can be foraged.


At Windsor Nature Park, ST journalist Ang Qing meets Dr Sean Yap,
a research fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s Tropical
Ecology & Entomology Lab, Mr Foo Maosheng, a senior
scientific officer at the National University of Singapore’s Lee
Kong Chian Natural History Museum, and entomological educator and
consultant James Khoo.


For almost two hours, they go on a trail while discussing
everything related to insects -  from Singapore's historical
link to beetle science, to how pretty privilege shapes research
in the insect kingdom.


Highlights (click/tap above):


5:41 Singapore's historical role in beetle science


11:18 Debunking the myth about cockroaches


15:38 How insect as food can gain popularity akin to seafood like
sambal stingray


17:53 The tastiest insects and can we forage for them


22:10 Sharing our home with insects


Read Ang Qing’s previous article about a cockroach discovery in
Singapore: https://str.sg/ikhv


Listen to other Green Trails episodes: 


Ep 1: Visit to Sungei Buloh: How Singapore can better host
migratory birds - https://str.sg/BrqS


Ep 2: Visit to East Coast: How reclamation will shape up against
rising sea levels - https://str.sg/mRG8


Follow Ang Qing on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ichp


Read her articles: https://str.sg/i5gT


Host: Ang Qing (aqing@sph.com.sg)


Trail producers: Hadyu Rahim, Fa’izah Sani, Amirul
Karim & Hana Chen


Edited by: Hadyu Rahim


Executive Producers: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg), Ernest
Luis (ernest@sph.com.sg) & Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg)


Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode
drops:


Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf


Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY


Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag


Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg


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Follow more ST podcast channels:


All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7


ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts


The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa


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Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player
section:


The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB


Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX


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