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Published Dec. 21, 2018
By Nina Sparling
Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., is hoping to ban spending on edible insect research and development. He failed to push through an amendment that would have banned such spending in the Farm Bill. Now, with the co-sponsorship of Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., he’s hoping to achieve the ban through the REDUCE Government Waste Act. As drafted, the bill states, “no federal funds may be used for the development of insect-based foods for human consumption.”
The bill targets spending where there isn’t much, according to Food Navigator. Few funds have been allocated to support small businesses for research and development to turn insects into edible, appealing food. Research grants totaled less than $1.5 million in the past 10 years.