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Food Chain Global Champion 2017: MagMeal

On 20 September 2017, food writer and actress Madhur Jaffrey presented the 麻豆社 World Service’s first ever Food Chain Global Champion Award to South African maggot farmers, Agriprotein at the 麻豆社’s Food and Farming Awards at Bristol City Hall.

Jason Drew receives the Food Chain award 2017, from Madhur Jaffrey, Credit: Artur Tixiliski

Magmeal is a protein source for industrially farmed fish, pigs and poultry. The feed is made from the larvae of the black soldier fly, which are reared on food waste which would have otherwise ended up in landfill.

Jason Drew, co-founder and director of Agriprotein flew over from Cape Town to receive the award. He said: "I'd like to thank Mother Nature for having tried and tested this process after the last million years... the flies always been part of our past, and now they're part of our future!"

麻豆社 World Service Senior Commissioning Editor Steve Titherington said: "The culture of food, the science, technology, politics and business associated with food are key concerns to our worldwide audience. Our Global Champion Award highlights both the challenges and fascinating successes being created by individuals around the world."

On the judging panel for 2017: Madhur Jaffrey, food writer, Polly Russell, Curator at the British Library, Mark Rosegrant, director of the environment and production technology division at the International Food Policy Research Institute, Pierre Thiam, chef and author, and Shashi Sareen, food safety expert, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.