THE PEMBROKESHIRE woman behind Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm and Bug Farm Foods has disputed claims that insect protein ‘mince’ will soon be rolled out to school dinner menus in the county.

In a submitted question to be heard at the Pembrokeshire County Council meeting of October 17, member of the public Valerie Sutherland will ask: “At a recent Biodiversity Study Day, Dr Sarah Beynon of the St David’s Bug Farm said that VEXo – the ‘mince’ used in their spaghetti bolognese comprising insect protein and vegetables – will be rolled out to Pembrokeshire schools soon.

“Has a contract for this been signed for imminent rollout? If so, have the allergic reactions and inflammatory issues been taken fully into account as children with seafood allergies will be affected by the chitin in this product?”

In a related question, she will also ask: “Insects bred for human consumption carry parasites that are seriously harmful to humans. Are councillors aware of the potentially serious health implications of children effectively being forced to consume insect protein as outlined [in an accompanying study]?”

Pembrokeshire is well known for Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm, the vision of Dr Sarah Beynon, who wanted to combine her love of farming, academic research and education by setting up a centre of excellence in her hometown of St Davids, with VEXo produced by Bug Farm Foods.

Dr Beynon, responding to the published submitted question, disputed saying the ‘mince’ would be ‘rolled out’ to schools.

“I did not say this, as it is not true. I explained the exciting development of VEXo insect and plant protein mince with over 2,000 Pembrokeshire school children, teachers, social scientists, nutritionists, Welsh Government and Innovate UK, explaining that VEXO Bolognese was due to be offered on school menus in Pembrokeshire in 2020.

“Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic hit during the same week that we were due to finalise the roll-out with Pembrokeshire County Council. Schools were closed, so it did not go ahead. I mentioned that we are looking forward to revisiting this with Pembrokeshire County Council in the future, but did not put a timeframe on it.”

On pupils being ‘forced’ to consume the protein, Dr Beynon added: “We would never force anyone to eat anything they didn’t want to. Pupils are never forced to consume a food – during the previous discussions, it would be offered as a choice on the menu.

“Interestingly, 100 per cent of pupils liked VEXo Bolognese and one of the most wonderful outcomes of in-school workshops we ran was that children said it made them want to learn more about sustainability in schools. It also increased the take-up of school meals.”

On other issues raised by the questioner, she said: “As insects, like crustaceans, are arthropods, those allergic to crustaceans may also be allergic to insects. As with any other food, allergen labelling is vital, and all of our insect-based products are labelled appropriately and allergen information provided to groups who visit us in advance.”

She finished: “All plant, fungi and livestock foods have the potential to carry pests, parasites and pesticides that can be harmful to humans. The vital stage in eating them is how they are processed or cooked with industry-standard critical control points reached. Insects are no different. Insects farmed for human food are anaesthetized before being killed (frozen) and are cooked at high temperatures. Full microbiology testing is carried out.

“The fact that the resultant products have a stable ambient shelf life for around two years shows just how low-risk the food product is. Insects used in Bug Farm Foods’ food products are farmed in UK insect farms with the very highest biosecurity standards. Because the industry is relatively new to the UK and Europe, the legislation around farming them has been developed with modern understanding of biosecurity and animal welfare, meaning that it is some of the most up-to-date in the world.

“VEXo was specifically developed, here in Pembrokeshire, to tackle issues related to childhood obesity and nutrition gaps in growing young people. It contains about 80 per cent less saturated fat than a conventional meat-based Bolognese and is high in iodine, which is often low in teenage girls’ diets. Insects contain highly digestible protein, contain all essential amino acids, heme iron and a really good ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids.”

The questions will be heard and responded to at the meeting.

SENEDD members warned schools face “harrowing” funding pressures that risk failing a generation of children and young people in Wales.

Cefin Campbell led a Senedd debate on a report by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), which warned of a deepening school funding crisis.

Mr Campbell told the Senedd: “The financial situation is dire now, the sector is facing a teacher recruitment crisis now and the skills gap is at its highest level on record now.”

The former lecturer, who represents Mid and West Wales, called for funding to reverse a 6% real-terms cut in spending per pupil identified in the report.

Mr Campbell said the Welsh Government has missed its target for recruiting secondary school teachers for the past eight years, with almost 5,500 leaving the profession.

He explained that this equates to 100,000 years’ worth of experience lost.

He accused the Welsh Government of mismanaging and underfunding schools, leading to Wales’ worst results on record in last year’s international Pisa tests.

Referring to an ITV Wales report on literacy, Mr Campbell criticised “mixed messaging” as he warned ministers promoted “outdated and discredited” teaching guidance.

He said: “Is it any wonder that teachers, parents and pupils are confused by all of this, if the government seemingly doesn’t have a clue about what it’s doing or saying from day to day?

“This failure to improve literacy levels is a damning indictment.”

Vaughan Gething argued Labour can be proud of its record of investing in schools despite the “brutal reality” of 14 years of austerity under the previous UK Government.

Wales’ former First Minister said the Welsh Government has invested more than £3bn in new buildings for schools and colleges over the past decade.

Mr Gething, now a backbencher, pointed to an above-inflation 5.5% pay offer for teachers as he criticised a “painful and shameful” pattern of Wales being shortchanged by the Tories.

He told the Senedd that Labour’s commitment to ending tax breaks for private schools will see that money instead invested in state education.

Mr Gething, who will stand down as Cardiff South and Penarth MS in 2026, said a 6% increase for schools would equate to finding about £215m this year.

He warned: “It’s not intellectually honest to claim the resources could be found from waste or attacking perceived mismanagement.”

Warning of a bleak picture for Welsh schools, Tom Giffard, the Tories’ shadow education secretary, described the NAHT report as “shocking but not surprising”.

Mr Giffard argued the Welsh Government’s additional learning needs (ALN) system has proved bureaucratic and expensive.

He told the Senedd that 87% of school leaders described funding for ALN as inadequate, with 88% saying this has caused huge financial pressures.

Plaid Cymru’s Sioned Williams raised concerns about more than 61% of secondary school pupils who are eligible for free school meals being persistently absent in 2023/24.

“That is an absolutely catastrophic figure,” she warned.

Wales’ education secretary Lynne Neagle recognised the financial pressures on schools, saying she does not underestimate the scale of the challenge.

Ms Neagle, who has been in post for six months, said the Welsh Government is delivering a new curriculum, ALN and mental health reform, and universal free school meals in primaries.

She told the Senedd that the Welsh Government’s settlement is still worth up to £700m less in real terms than expected in 2021.

Stressing that councils are responsible for funding schools, she said ministers have sought to protect public services with local authorities receiving a 3.3% increase this year.

Ms Neagle said council funding formulas for schools will be reviewed, with the aim of making the system more transparent, comparable and consistent.

Following the debate on October 9, members voted 23-25 against the Plaid Cymru motion. The Welsh Government’s amended version was agreed by the same margin in reverse.

TRIBUNALS in Wales do not have the necessary resources to make sure cases are dealt with quickly, efficiently and justly, a committee heard.

Sir Gary Hickinbottom, who is president of the Welsh Tribunals, which oversees seven devolved tribunals, appeared before the Senedd’s legislation committee on October 14.

Labour’s Mike Hedges, who chairs the legislation committee, questioned a combined budget overspend of more than £1m over the past two financial years.

Sir Gary told the committee: “One significant factor is general inflation, particularly in terms of pay and pension payments, and that inflation has not been reflected in the budget.”

Pressed on whether tribunals have the required resources and support to ensure cases are disposed of speedily, efficiently and justly, he said: “I think the real answer is ‘no’.”

He raised concerns about a disparity between the Welsh tribunal budget and actual spending, saying future estimates must more accurately reflect likely expenditure.

Giving evidence on his annual report, his first since being appointed in May 2023, Sir Gary raised the risk of ‘stark’ differences in pay between devolved and non-devolved tribunals.

The former appeal court judge warned any disparity in pay, terms and conditions, training or opportunities could lead people towards non-devolved tribunals.

He said: “Things like rates of pay are more important … than they once were. That’s not to say that judicial office holders are not driven by public service.”

Sir Gary told the committee there was parity of pay rates between devolved and non-devolved tribunals until 2023/24.

But he warned: “Last year, there was a disparity in the pay award because the Welsh Government did not make an award in line with the senior salaries review body recommendations which the UK Government did.

“So, there was a 2% deficiency in Wales compared with the reserved courts and tribunals.

“One understands the financial pressures on the Welsh Government that resulted in that disparity but I’m pleased to say that disparity has now gone.”

Sir Gary added: “That, I think, is very important. It’s not simply the cash, although for some people that’s important – it’s also a mark of the perceived value.”

He warned historical pay differences for non-sitting days remain, and in all cases “there’s disparity against the devolved tribunals in favour of the reserved tribunals”.

Labour’s Alun Davies asked about proposals for structural reform, which include creating a first-tier tribunal divided into chambers and an appeal tribunal for Wales.

Sir Gary said Welsh tribunals are in a peculiar place on the “jagged edge” of devolution, with the justice system reserved to Westminster

He told the committee: “[It’s] really important that these reforms go through, I think – both for the tribunals themselves but particularly, of course, for the tribunal users.

“We’re all here to serve the people of Wales.”

Describing the plans as balanced and coherent, he said: “The scope of the newly reformed tribunals will expand to include things like school admissions and school exclusion appeals.”

Sir Gary told committee members the reforms would “future proof” the system, with scope to bring further devolved areas such as youth justice under the umbrella.