Matilda Ho spoke at the Ted conference about the need to spread the message about healthy eating. She is backing a range of new plans, including one that offers protein made from silkworms.
China has a growing problem with the development of its economy. "China has 20% of the world's population but only 7% of land is suitable for growing crops," Ms Ho told the BBC. "One in four diabetics(糖尿病) is now Chinese and one in five obese people."
Ms Ho began dealing with the issue with an online farmers' market which now supplies 240 types of new products from 57 farmers. It has gained 40,000 customers since it started 18 months ago. "I wanted to use technology to shorten the gap between growers and consumers," Ms Ho told the BBC. "It is a right to know where your food comes from." The food is delivered to customers via electric vehicles and in biodegradable(可生物降解的) boxes to keep the carbon footprint low.
China has a rapidly rising middle class and a culture where it is polite to order more food for guests in restaurants. Ms Ho realized that one online shop was not enough and made some shops promote a range of food tech firms. It includes the ones that use silkworms as a source of protein. "In China, silkworms are by-products of the textile industry so they are affordable and accessible," explained Ms Ho. "They also don't sound like a bug so it doesn't sound as yucky as an insect. As kids, we raised silkworms at school." There is a history of insect eating in China but silkworms are the only insect legal in China to use as an ingredient in food.
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