Nowadays, it is not uncommon to hear unconventional solutions to environmental problems.
However, one such suggestion by an upcoming Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) show has raised more than a few eyebrows and drawn sharp criticism from experts.
The national broadcaster’s forthcoming series hinted at the idea of Australians adding the invasive cane toad to our diets. The show, titled Eat the Invaders, is set to air in the new year and has already drawn criticism from experts in the field of invasive species management.
Hosted by former ABC News Breakfast presenter Tony Armstrong, the series explores what it calls a ‘tasty solution’ to Australia’s invasive species crisis, including the notorious cane toad. In a promotional trailer, Armstrong suggests that by ‘reimagining’ the problem, Australians might ‘help save Australia, one forkful at a time’.
The programme is expected to showcase six different meals prepared primarily from various introduced and invasive species in Australia, such as deer, carp, and rabbits. However, Dr Carol Booth, Principal Policy Analyst at the Invasive Species Council, has voiced concerns about the show’s premise.
Dr Booth warned that while the idea may seem well-intentioned, it’s not practical in reality. She argues that showcasing these animals as food could inadvertently make their presence more desirable, potentially exacerbating the problem.
‘Promoting invasive species as a resource, whether for profit or pleasure, often entrenches problems,’ Dr Booth wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald. She cited examples where similar approaches have backfired, such as the ‘creation of a market for feral goats … degrading outback Australia’, and how ‘years of talk about sending the meat overseas delayed plans to cull them, resulting in larger numbers’.
The Invasive Species Council claims they raised these concerns with the show’s makers early in the concept stage. Dr Booth expressed disappointment that their ‘biology-based message was not so delicious’ to the production team.
Dr Booth criticised the show’s suggestion that eating invasive species could lead to their eradication, stating that eating ‘some species into eradication would be laughable if it wasn’t so dangerously wrong’. She pointed out that governments have already spent significant taxpayer money on futile programs such as bounties for foxes and pigs, and community efforts to control cane toads.
Australia grapples with a staggering array of non-native intruders—more than 6,000 in total. From flora and fauna to microscopic organisms, these unwelcome guests threaten the balance of the country’s distinctive natural habitats. The cane toad, in particular, remains a major threat, with Queensland overrun and fears of the toxic amphibian spreading further south.
While the ABC’s intention may be to raise awareness about invasive species in an entertaining way, experts like Dr Booth warn that such approaches could have unintended consequences.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this approach to invasive species management. Do you think eating invasive species could be part of the solution, or could it potentially make the problem worse? Share your opinions in the comments below.
Also read: The next chapter for ABC News Breakfast: Glenday and Murphy announced as new hosts
