For years when lobstermen found sea urchins (海胆) in their lobster (龙虾) traps, they would break them underfoot. That was before Japanese buyers realized that urchin could produce some of the most delicious food on earth. It turned out that there was value in something long ignored.
The fight to feed a world of perhaps 10bn by mid-century is being fought. It demands great drop in the amount of food wasted and farming that make sure of long-term soil fertility (肥沃) at the same time as increases in production. It will also be helped by filling in some of the gaps in the food system: things ignored. There are foods ignored in some places which other places and cultures prize — such as sea urchins.
Filling in the gaps in the world's food web requires giving up some tastes and preferences. Consider the insect. Around 1,900 species are eaten around the world, according to the FAO. Fifty years ago, most Western diners didn't eat uncooked fish; today you can get sushi at supermarkets. In time insects may become the popular delicious food people would like. It is not just sushi that once turned up noses—potatoes and tomatoes did too. Tastes change over time.
What will a popular menu from 2021 look like to people in 100 years? They may pity dining choices limited to a small number of living creatures—no fried, giant crickets (蟋蟀).
