Crickets could soon be a regular item on Australian menus if Paula-lee Pownall’s insect farm Grubs Up Australia continues to grow. Ms Pownall founded the business in 2016 and hopes to make crickets a food source for humans and animals.
She is passionate about changing the perception of bugs as a protein source, as population growth potentially puts pressure on the agriculture sector to be more efficient. Crickets are nutrient dense and require minimal land usage and have a low environmental impact.
After receiving health licensing in August 2016, Grubs Up began to commercialise its insect production systems.
Ms Pownall has also volunteered with the Coolup Bush Fire Brigade including during the 2016 Yarloop bushfires, and was involved in the rollout of a national drought resilience program.
