When 15th-century explorer Christopher Columbus tried to return to Spain after his fourth and final trip to the West Indies, his fleet had barely set sail when the ships began to sink and ere forced to limp back to port.
The scourge of that journey? Shipworms. The notorious wood-boring molluscs had burrowed into the vessels' woodwork, leaving them looking like honeycombs.
But now, after causing chaos in the shipping industry for hundreds of years, shipworms are at the forefront of innovative research to find new sources of food for humankind.
As part of a protein revolution the new products are said to be full of flavour and nutrients, ready to be used as an ingredient in meals.
Future fishcakes is the vision of scientists behind the effort to use worms as nutrients. To that end the researchers in the UK are trying a rebrand. David Willer of the University of Cambridge calls the insects "naked clams".
“We're providing a sustainable, high-protein food source that can help address global food security concerns,” Dr Willer said. “Naked clams could revolutionise the way we think about aquaculture and sustainable food production.”
Chantal Clement, deputy director at the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems, who specialises in the vulnerability of the global industrial food system, believes recent global crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change-induced shocks highlight the need for a shift in eating patterns.
“We’ve seen a rise in global hunger, inequality and livelihood stresses as every country continues to face supply chain disruptions, food price inflation and higher costs of living,” she told The National.
“Not a single region is spared.”
Middle East's quest for sustainable food
In the Middle East, companies and organisations are actively exploring alternative food sources, driven by the region's scarcity of water scarcity and fertile land.
A World Bank report found that the average year-on-year food inflation in 16 Mena economies was 29 per cent between March and December 2022.
This has led to a significant increase in food insecurity, with one out of five people in developing Mena countries likely to face challenges.
The report estimates that almost eight million children under five years of age will suffer from hunger.
With a growing population, countries like the UAE are aiming to reduce their dependence on food imports by embracing innovations in AgriFoodTech.
The UAE FoodTech Challenge, backed by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and Tamkeen, in association with Aspire, is promoting innovative agricultural technology solutions.
It focuses on food production for exploring next-generation nutrient-rich alternatives as well as food loss and waste for ensuring sustainability across the food supply chain.
One project, Revoltech, based in the UAE, has come up with a unique freezing technology that uses electromagnetic fields to minimise damage during the cooling process.
The method not only accelerates the freezing of food but also extends its preservation life up to 50 years.
Search for resilient food sources
For Dr Clement at IPES-Food, sky-high import costs mean countries in the Global South in particular need to find innovative solutions.
Many countries do not have the ability to invest in sustainable food production and food security for their own communities, she said.
“We need to empower local communities and shift towards much more diverse and resilient food systems that truly provide sustainable food for all,” she said.
“Only a comprehensive understanding of the food system will allow us to develop the solutions we need.
“This doesn't just mean bringing together expertise from different parts of the food system, but also different types of knowledge – whether science, indigenous knowledge, or lived experience.”
Global Food Security Summit – in pictures
Exploring lab-grown meats and alternative sources
Researchers and start-ups around the globe are pushing the boundaries of what can be considered a viable protein source.
Scientists are cultivating meat cells in laboratories, offering a sustainable and ethical alternative to traditional meat.
This approach not only reduces the environmental impact associated with livestock farming but also addresses concerns about animal welfare.
The meat, grown from animal cells, requires no slaughter and significantly less land and water than conventional meat production.
Meanwhile, other scientists are trying to harness the power of plants and insects for a protein-rich and sustainable option.
Companies are experimenting with crickets and mealworms, turning them into powders and flours that can be incorporated into everyday foods.
In the UK, companies are extracting protein from peas to create meat substitutes that are labelled environmentally friendly.
Pea protein has the advantage of being allergen-free, unlike soy, making it a suitable option for a broader range of consumers.
Another development is using algae as a protein source. Algae, which can be grown using minimal resources, offers a high protein content along with essential omega-3 fatty acids.
Cultivating a future of sustainable meat
Upside Foods from the US creates meat from animal cells, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional animal farming.
Speaking to The National, the company said it makes “meat that’s been grown directly from real animal cells, without the need to raise and slaughter billions of animals”.
The technology aims to provide familiar meat products in an ethical manner. It has environmental benefits, with a smaller impact than conventional meat production, with fewer greenhouse gas emissions and less need for land and water.
“The real magical moment happens when someone sees the meat, hears it sizzling and tastes it,” the spokesman said.
The company also focuses on sustainability, operating its California centre on 100 per cent renewable energy and continuously optimising production processes.
From ocean pests to protein: the shipworm transformation
Returning to Columbus's shipworms, marine biologists have transformed the “naked clams” into a sustainable food source.
These creatures use symbiotic bacteria to digest wood and convert it into vitamin-rich protein, offering an eco-friendly alternative for processed foods such as fishcakes.
“These animals are commonly known as shipworms because they were infamous for rapidly devouring wooden-hulled ships,” a researcher involved in the project, Reuben Shipway of the University of Plymouth, told The National.
“The challenge was the branding – how do we get people to eat something commonly known as a shipworm?"
It is trying to rename the insect to promote a new way of looking at how we source the food we eat.
“This is why we came up with the name 'naked clams'. These animals aren't worms, humanity is no longer reliant on wooden-hulled vessels for seafaring, and the new name is pretty scientifically accurate.”
The researchers developed a system to farm naked clams using waste wood in saltwater tanks, ensuring high water quality and addressing food safety concerns in shellfish farming.
“Naked clams can be grown entirely on wood, which is a completely renewable resource,” Dr Shipway said.
“Our research has also shown that they are highly nutritious, with double the B12 content of blue mussels. So, with naked clams, we can essentially take wood and turn it into nutritious protein.”
Naked clams grow rapidly, offering an efficient protein source with high nutrient content and beneficial monounsaturated fats.
Dr Shipway emphasised the minimal ecological impact of their farming system, which addresses environmental degradation and health issues related to diet.
“With regards to the impact on local ecosystems – this should be minimal. We've developed a simple modular aquaculture system to grow these animals, and this system eliminates any issues around water quality, disease, and pollution.”
If Columbus had thought of eating the shipworms attacking his vessels, perhaps his journey home would have been simpler.
Roll%20of%20Honour%2C%20men%E2%80%99s%20domestic%20rugby%20season
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
Teaching in coronavirus times
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday Stuttgart v Cologne (Kick-off 10.30pm UAE)
Saturday RB Leipzig v Hertha Berlin (5.30pm)
Mainz v Borussia Monchengladbach (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Union Berlin v SC Freiburg (5.30pm)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (5.30pm)
Sunday Wolfsburg v Arminia (6.30pm)
Werder Bremen v Hoffenheim (9pm)
Bayer Leverkusen v Augsburg (11.30pm)
SPEC%20SHEET
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20M2%2C%208-core%20CPU%2C%20up%20to%2010-core%20CPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2013.6-inch%20Liquid%20Retina%2C%202560%20x%201664%2C%20224ppi%2C%20500%20nits%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20wide%20colour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F16%2F24GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%20%2F%201%2F2TB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Thunderbolt%203%20(2)%2C%203.5mm%20audio%2C%20Touch%20ID%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%206%2C%20Bluetooth%205.0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2052.6Wh%20lithium-polymer%2C%20up%20to%2018%20hours%2C%20MagSafe%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECamera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201080p%20FaceTime%20HD%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Support%20for%20Apple%20ProRes%2C%20HDR%20with%20Dolby%20Vision%2C%20HDR10%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAudio%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204-speaker%20system%2C%20wide%20stereo%2C%20support%20for%20Dolby%20Atmos%2C%20Spatial%20Audio%20and%20dynamic%20head%20tracking%20(with%20AirPods)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Silver%2C%20space%20grey%2C%20starlight%2C%20midnight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MacBook%20Air%2C%2030W%20or%2035W%20dual-port%20power%20adapter%2C%20USB-C-to-MagSafe%20cable%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh4%2C999%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
HWJN
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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SNAPSHOT
While Huawei did launch the first smartphone with a 50MP image sensor in its P40 series in 2020, Oppo in 2014 introduced the Find 7, which was capable of taking 50MP images: this was done using a combination of a 13MP sensor and software that resulted in shots seemingly taken from a 50MP camera.
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
Karwaan
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Director: Akarsh Khurana
Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar
Rating: 4/5
Fast%20X
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Louis%20Leterrier%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Vin%20Diesel%2C%20Michelle%20Rodriguez%2C%20Jason%20Statham%2C%20Tyrese%20Gibson%2C%20Ludacris%2C%20Jason%20Momoa%2C%20John%20Cena%2C%20Jordana%20Brewster%2C%20Nathalie%20Emmanuel%2C%20Sung%20Kang%2C%20Brie%20Larson%2C%20Helen%20Mirren%20and%20Charlize%20Theron%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Multitasking pays off for money goals
Tackling money goals one at a time cost financial literacy expert Barbara O'Neill at least $1 million.
That's how much Ms O'Neill, a distinguished professor at Rutgers University in the US, figures she lost by starting saving for retirement only after she had created an emergency fund, bought a car with cash and purchased a home.
"I tell students that eventually, 30 years later, I hit the million-dollar mark, but I could've had $2 million," Ms O'Neill says.
Too often, financial experts say, people want to attack their money goals one at a time: "As soon as I pay off my credit card debt, then I'll start saving for a home," or, "As soon as I pay off my student loan debt, then I'll start saving for retirement"."
People do not realise how costly the words "as soon as" can be. Paying off debt is a worthy goal, but it should not come at the expense of other goals, particularly saving for retirement. The sooner money is contributed, the longer it can benefit from compounded returns. Compounded returns are when your investment gains earn their own gains, which can dramatically increase your balances over time.
"By putting off saving for the future, you are really inhibiting yourself from benefiting from that wonderful magic," says Kimberly Zimmerman Rand , an accredited financial counsellor and principal at Dragonfly Financial Solutions in Boston. "If you can start saving today ... you are going to have a lot more five years from now than if you decide to pay off debt for three years and start saving in year four."
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
23-man shortlist for next six Hall of Fame inductees
Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
