New Zealand, Polish and American scientists, working with the non-profit organization Alliance to Feed the Earth in Disasters, have found that after a nuclear war, humanity will not be able to feed itself by eating worms. The results of the study published In the journal Biomass.
Even a small nuclear conflict would release large amounts of soot and other particulate matter into the atmosphere. The result would be that not enough sunlight would penetrate the Earth’s surface, causing a drop in average temperatures of several degrees and reducing photosynthesis, putting crop yields at risk. Large-scale natural disasters, such as the impact of an asteroid or the eruption of a supervolcano, could have similar consequences.
A group of experts led by James Mulhall of the nonprofit Alliance to Feed the Earth in Disasters decided to investigate the possibilities of earthworms (Lumbricina) as a potential source of vital calories for humanity’s survival after a nuclear disaster. These invertebrates feed on fallen leaves and other plant debris, so scientists assume they could survive in conditions of temporary lack of sunlight.
Mulhall and his team first estimated the approximate total mass of all worms on the planet. According to previous studies, the average wet weight of these invertebrates per square meter of soil is 51 grams. At the same time, the land area suitable for human extraction of worms is 10.3 billion hectares. Combining these two values, the authors concluded that the edible wet weight of worms is 5.3 billion tons. This is enough to meet 1,310 days of protein needs and 220 days of energy needs of 8 billion people.
However, scientists later concluded that neither manual collection, nor the use of various chemicals, nor the use of modern soil separators are effective methods for harvesting these invertebrates in large quantities.
The authors also noted that eating worms could be harmful to your health due to the accumulation of various chemicals in their bodies. Additionally, some parts of the world (such as Canada and East and Central Asia) will be too cold to harvest. At the same time, if rainfall decreases, the worms’ activity will also decrease, making it even more difficult to obtain food.
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Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.