The Gateway Bug

The Gateway Bug is a captivating documentary that shines a revealing light on practices that could literally change the world - with the unlikely hero of insects playing the starring role. This thought-provoking film digs deep into the vastly underexplored potential of insects as a source of sustainable protein and their potential impact on our planet, health, and food security.

World-renowned celebrity chef and TV personality Andrew Zimmern, together with former model and CEO of a startup that harvests crickets for human consumption, Terese Pagh, and actor/director Tom DeNucci, join a host of other experts to investigate how shifting to insects as a major protein source could soundly resolve concerns over hunger and environmental issues. This film delves into the groundbreaking research and industry efforts focused on incorporating insects into the global diet.

Directed by Johanna B. Kelly and Cameron Marshad, The Gateway Bug explores a mix of environmental impacts, food innovation, and entrepreneurship from across the globe. The documentary seeks to stir the conscience, enlighten, and challenge viewers on what they think they know about sustainable consumption and the future of food.

The filmmakers take us on a worldwide journey to four continents and thirteen countries, including the lush landscapes of Thailand and Laos, where insect consumption is a centuries-old tradition, to the United States and Europe, where new industries are emerging to tap into the nutrients that these tiny creatures harness. The filmmakers aim to shatter the Western disgust factor, presenting insects as a viable source of food in places where meat consumption and conventional agriculture significantly strain planetary health.

Contributions from various experts help bring the conversation to life. Scholars, farmers, chefs, and food developers share their insights in colorful and engaging interviews. Their varying perspectives offer a balanced, multifaceted view of entomophagy (the practice of eating insects), providing viewers with a deeper understanding of this practice.

While illustrating the massive environmental implications of our current, heavily industrialized farming practices, the film urges viewers to consider insects, with their minimal environmental footprint, as a more sustainable protein source. The film explores this topic with a depth of research, expert opinions, and compelling visuals, illuminating the steep ecological costs of cattle farming and unsustainable fishing practices.

The ever-charismatic Andrew Zimmern makes a compelling case advocating the benefits of insect consumption, providing not only first-hand accounts of individual experiences with insect-based meals but also a broader discourse on the future of food security.

Terese Pagh, a former model turned cricket farming industry executive, gives the viewer an inside look at how her interest in sustainable fashion led her down the path of promoting and marketing insects as a food source. She presents the business side of the story, focusing on innovative ways to promote the concept and make it more palatable to the masses.

Tom DeNucci's contribution helps drive home the point that changing attitudes towards eating insects is not merely a fantastical idea. His role in the film creates a diversity of perspective, propelling the notion that everyone, regardless of their background, can contribute to this shift in eating habits and help preserve our planet.

The Gateway Bug doesn't shy away from controversial topics. It's brave in its exploration of sensitive subjects like global hunger, environmental degradation, and health-related problems associated with overconsumption of meat in western diets. It challenges the viewer to question accepted beliefs about our daily food choices and the systemic pressures that influence them.

But it's not all serious business. The film also includes plenty of humor and light-hearted moments, making it a thoroughly entertaining documentary that'll leave you feeling educated, and perhaps, a little peckish.

The Gateway Bug is a must-watch, not just for environmental activists and foodies, but for anyone interested in exploring the potential future of food or eager to consider alternatives that could maintain both our health and the well-being of our planet. Whether it's termites in Africa, caterpillars in Asia, or cricket flour in your next smoothie, this film prompts us to think about what we can all do to initiate change, starting with our next meal. This 2017 film may have the key to unlocking a sustainable future – if we're willing to swallow the truth.