Cordon bleugh? Worms and crickets could soon be tickling French palates

Burgundy insect farm ramps up production to offer a meat-free future

In a box-like building on an out-of-town industrial estate in Burgundy, trays of Alphitobius diaperinus - otherwise known as the lesser mealworm - are being fattened up by robots then cooked, dried and turned into protein-rich powder and oil.

This is the headquarters of nsect a French company that is building the world's largest insect farm, to open at the end of the year in preparation for what the French company believes will be a large increase in demand for a healthy alternative to meat.