Pure dust – or flour? – the “Krone” interview with Paolo Barilla, the co-boss of the largest Italian pasta manufacturer, caused a sensation. On the occasion of the 4GameChangers Festival, the entrepreneur visited Vienna, and in an interview with the “Krone” he made not only a sensational statement – also reflections on pasta made from insect flour.
There’s a worm in it – that’s what many readers probably thought, expressing surprise and anger in the comments: “Will boycott Barilla and use Austrian brands (…)”, writes a user with the username “Fallen fruit” under the interview. And someone nicknamed “DerSagerAlexAUT” says, “If Barilla does that, I’ll never buy another pack of Barilla Spaghetti (…)”. So the excitement is great, a statement by Barilla literally boils over the pasta water for pasta lovers. But what is it actually about?
When asked if Barilla would ever produce pasta from insect flour in terms of climate protection, sustainability and innovation, Paolo replies as you would expect from a Mafia boss in a movie: “If you bring this issue up in Italy, they would probably cut your heels.” fingers!” So far, so Italian But he doesn’t want to dismiss the idea altogether.
Actually understandable, because insects are consumed in more than 140 countries around the world as a normal, protein-rich and healthy food – even in Austria there are more and more foods based on groundworms, locusts and caterpillars. Almost a year ago, the European Commission approved the third insect for food in the EU: the house cricket.
In addition, insects can still be obtained relatively cheaply as an ingredient in the food trade. In contrast to wheat, which is becoming increasingly expensive and difficult to obtain due to the war in Ukraine and ongoing climate change.
Will Barilla soon produce pasta from insect meal?
Anyway, Barilla is daydreaming in conversation with the “Krone” – or visions of the future? – hin: “This means we can be part of the solution to the climate crisis and food shortages,” he muses. Who knows what’s coming: “Maybe someday, if people want it. I’m curious to see what’s going to happen anyway. These are long processes, slow movements. Technology always wants new things, of course, but when it comes to food, they want we what our mothers used to make. You tend to lag behind, you’re more skeptical.” That doesn’t mean a definite no…
However, the time is not yet ripe for this. Barilla knows this at the latest last fall, when the last attempt to flirt with this topic failed: last year, the pasta maker commissioned an Italian satirist to record a video in which he suggested using insects to make pasta. When this clip circulated on social networks, calls for a boycott followed – and even members of the government protested.
With the “Krone”, Paolo Barilla spoke not only about pasta made from insect flour, but also about bottlenecks in production, controversial statements by his brother and why food will never be as cheap as it is now. Read the entire interview here.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
