A conversation with a mealworm training instructor - let's hear what the instructor has to say

This is a conversation we had with a scholar engaged in mealworm research when we were preparing a "Three Rural Areas Wealth-Building Lecture" event. We hope it can offer some insight to those who want to learn aboutmealworm farming. For more mealworm information, please clickMealworm Special Feature 。

Mealworm Training Instructor 21:47:32
In recent years, mealworm seed speculation has been rampant  it has almost destroyed this just-emerging industry

Three Rural Areas Wealth-Building 21:49:07
Yes, when it comes to mealworms, I am also worried about this problem. Anyone who knows even a little about it will probably ask, is this seed speculation? You see far too much of it online.


Mealworm Training Instructor 21:54:26
For us, promoting mealworm farming is a cause  we mainly research deep processing   I hope that in the future we will no longer have to rely on exports

Three Rural Areas Wealth-Building 21:54:41
Hmm

Mealworm Training Instructor 21:55:05
If one day, foreign countries treat mealworms like vegetables and impose some kind of inspection  then for the entire industry, it would definitely be devastating

Mealworm Training Instructor 21:55:30
We are also working with the Feed Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences to draft an industry standard  

Mealworm Training Instructor 21:56:08
This industry standard is something we have pursued for 10 years  I estimate it can be achieved in two to three years

Three Rural Areas Wealth-Building 21:57:34
Oh, industry standard, what does that mean? Processing needs to rely on enterprises. As long as enterprises can make a profit, plus some environmental conditions, an industry should be able to take shape.

Mealworm Training Instructor 21:59:13
Actually, the entire industry chain has not yet fully formed  it is just farmers breeding  processing enterprises drying  and then export enterprises exporting

Mealworm Training Instructor 21:59:53
This industry chain is still very fragile  

Mealworm Training Instructor 22:00:44
We hope that insect protein can be like fishmeal, with standards for everything  

Mealworm Training Instructor 22:01:22
That way, the entire mealworm farming sector will have a line and become a true industry

Three Rural Areas Wealth-Building 22:01:19
Oh, yes

Three Rural Areas Wealth-Building 22:02:19
Is it because there is no domestic consumption or use for it,

Mealworm Training Instructor 22:02:41
The demand for live worms is still quite large

Three Rural Areas Wealth-Building 22:02:56
Standards may always lag behind reality. Often the industry comes first, and standards come later.

Mealworm Training Instructor 22:03:09
Scorpions  centipedes  forest frogs  turtles  these also still need them for farming

Three Rural Areas Wealth-Building 22:03:15
Yes

Mealworm Training Instructor 22:04:44
But mealworms need to pupate  once the time has passed  and they have pupated  they have basically lost their commercial value

Three Rural Areas Wealth-Building 22:05:25
Oh,

Mealworm Training Instructor 22:07:35
So if the farming volume is small, it can still be handled internally  but if the farming volume is large  they must be dried  and rely on exports

Three Rural Areas Wealth-Building 22:08:11
Yes, this is the biggest problem.

Mealworm Training Instructor 22:08:53
Yeah  look at those unsold goods on Weibo  it is hard to say about mealworms  hehe

Three Rural Areas Wealth-Building 22:11:35
So what should ordinary farmers do? Should they farm them, and how can they farm in a way that avoids this problem?

Mealworm Training Instructor 22:12:19
Hehe  these are all problems  we need to find our own path to deep processing through scientific research

Three Rural Areas Wealth-Building 22:15:57
Okay. Understanding the current situation and thinking about the problems is good too. Maybe things will change.

Mealworm Training Instructor 22:16:26
Let us work hard together