Is there a future in farming (and eating) flies?

by JOE HINCHLIFFE

Flies are widely considered a nuisance, not a food source. 

But not to a Thagoona couple on a mission to produce almost all their food on their own one acre block. 

And they might be at the forefront of an emerging agricultural industry for South East Queensland – one which scientists say could change the way we eat hamburgers and ice cream forever. 

Former commercial farmer and tradie, Jon, has built a farm to attract and breed Black Soldier Flies. 

It is part of a backyard food production system he and his partner Anita run, which includes goats, chickens, quails, fruit and vegetables. 

But ‘farm’ is a pretty generous term for the fly set up. It is simply a small, rectangular box raised to about waist height.