With Kate Stoddard, Orchestra Provisions
Ep. #211 of The Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast
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Eating crickets. Is this the key to a sustainable food system?
Well, it’s this question that we answered today, with Kate Stoddard, the Founder of Orchestra Provisions.
Kate is a mother, social entrepreneur, and environmentalist. She has a master’s in the science of nutrition, and is interested in finding regenerative solutions to mend broken food systems.
Orchestra Provisions is normalizing the practice of entomophagy (eating insects) with an insects-as-ingredients approach to product development. The solution is multifaceted, addresses global food security, and is also an earth friendly solution to our protein problem.
The full transcript for this episode and more can be found at SocialEntrepreneurship.FM/211.
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In this episode, I was joined by Kate Stoddard, the Founder of Orchestra Provisions.
Orchestra Provisions is “harnessing the power of crickets to create simple, whole foods protein blends.”
They make protein powders, spices & seasonings, and therapeutics with ground crickets as a base ingredient.
Think you could try them?
Annie and I just received our first box.
Kate is a passionate river guide turned nutritional scientist turned social entrepreneur.
On the podcast she helps us envision what a future of food (with insects as a part of it) might look like.
And no, it’s not exactly swapping out your grass-fed ribeye steak with a plate full of roasted crickets (at least in Kate’s opinion).
Kate says it can be about insects as ingredients.
It’s not necessarily about insects replacing steak, replacing whole meals, it’s about being added as a piece to the entire food system puzzle.
Replacing a percentage of calories for another…
And with crickets, we might be replacing some calories with others that aren’t as high in protein, aren’t a whole food, and aren’t as sustainable.
As Kate walks us through in our conversation, there are a lot of benefits to bringing insects (crickets specifically) into our food systems:
- Crickets have essentially the same nutritional value of beef
- In many cases, crickets can be less inflammatory on the body
- Crickets are minimally processed (you just need to mill them)
- They reproduce quickly and efficiently
- They are very low on the food chain
- They require very little space and can be raised just about anywhere!
I found this quote from Kate to be quite representative of our chat:
“I’m not an extremist, even though it kind of feels like I am…it’s not really like that at all. I just want to provide an alternative that can have a great impact.”
— Kate Stoddard, Orchestra Provisions
Kate is clearly passionate about this topic, but she likewise has a strong sense for what will tip more people over the edge to getting involved.
Switching out your grass-fed beef burgers for crickets?
Not sure how many people are ready to take that leap…
It’s not about a complete swap.
It’s about substitutions
As always, don’t forget to sign up for my Better World Weekly Newsletter. This is a newsletter where I share all my learnings and musings on all things building a better world.
Enjoy,
-Cory Ames
Host, The Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast
“If you really believe in what you are doing and you are passionate about it, you won’t fail, you’ll just pivot and make it what it needs to be.”
— Kate Stoddard, Orchestra Provisions
Links & Resources Mentioned
- Kate Stoddard on LinkedIn
- Orchestra Provisions
- Orchestra Provisions on Instagram
- Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard
- Breath by James Nestor
- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
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- (Interview) Purpose-Driven CEO: Tips and Advice for Entrepreneurs Who Want to Make an Impact, with Giancarlo Marcaccini
- (Article) What Is Food Waste and How to Combat It with Food Recovery
- (List) Sustainable Food and Beverage Companies
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About the Host
Cory Ames
Co-Founder & CEO, Grow Ensemble
Cory is the host of The Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast, where he’s interviewed well over 150 leaders in the space of better business, social impact, and innovation. Prior to Grow Ensemble, Cory was the CEO of a digital marketing agency, a position he earned at the age of 22. There, he became an expert on all things digital marketing & SEO.
Cory Co-Founded Grow Ensemble as a vehicle to raise awareness of and inspire action around some of the world’s biggest problems and problem solvers.
He blogs, podcasts, and publishes video on all things leaving the world a better, more just, equitable, and habitable place for all.
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