Jeremy Clarkson Samples Cricket Burger as Great British Farm-Fest Prepares to Showcase the Future of Farming

Jeremy Clarkson has taken an unexpected taste of what the future of British farming could look like after sampling a burger made with cricket protein ahead of this year’s Great British Farm-Fest.

The Clarkson’s Farm presenter tried the insect-based burger during a special preview event at NAEC Stoneleigh, where the festival will be held from May 22 to May 24. The unusual tasting was designed to highlight one of the more surprising conversations now taking place in agriculture: whether insects could become part of the future food system.

Clarkson was joined at the event by several familiar names from the farming and countryside world, including Kaleb Cooper, Lisa Hogan, Harriet Cowan, Gareth Wyn Jones, Adam Henson and Olly Harrison. Together, they were introduced to the work of the UK Edible Insect Association, which is aiming to show how insect protein could support more sustainable food production.

The cricket burger was not presented simply as a novelty. It was used as a practical example of how alternative proteins could be turned into familiar food products. While the idea of eating insects may still feel unusual to many British consumers, experts argue that crickets and other edible insects could offer a more efficient source of protein, using less land, water and feed than some traditional forms of livestock farming.

For Clarkson, who has become one of the most visible voices in British farming through Clarkson’s Farm, the tasting offered another glimpse into the changing face of agriculture. His Amazon Prime Video series has often shown the pressures facing farmers, from weather and rising costs to planning disputes and shifting government policy. The cricket burger preview added a different question to that conversation: what will the British food system look like in the years ahead?

The UK Edible Insect Association will be among the exhibitors at the Great British Farm-Fest and will bring its work to the Farm Lab area across all three days of the event. The organisation is expected to explain how insects can be farmed, processed and used in food products, while also giving visitors a chance to learn more about the science and sustainability arguments behind edible insects.

Organisers have confirmed that visitors will be able to try some insect snacks during the festival. While the cricket burgers themselves may be part of the wider showcase, UKEIA will be bringing edible insect samples for those curious enough to try something different. For some guests, it may be the most memorable tasting experience of the weekend.

The preview comes as excitement continues to build around the Great British Farm-Fest, which is being promoted as a major celebration of rural life, food, farming and innovation. The three-day event will take place at NAEC Stoneleigh, just 15 minutes from Coventry, and is expected to bring together farmers, food producers, families and industry experts.

Visitors will be able to explore a wide range of attractions, including livestock shows, food and drink stalls, educational exhibits and hands-on countryside activities. The event is designed to appeal not only to those already working in agriculture, but also to families and members of the public who want to better understand where their food comes from and how farming is changing.

The festival will also feature a strong entertainment line-up. Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Alex James, Chris Moyles and Groove Armada are among the names set to appear across the three days, giving the event a broad appeal beyond the agricultural community.

For fans of Clarkson’s Farm, the involvement of Clarkson, Kaleb Cooper, Lisa Hogan and Harriet Cowan is likely to be one of the major attractions. The show has brought farming issues to a wider audience and turned Diddly Squat Farm into one of the most recognisable agricultural settings in the country. Their presence at Farm-Fest connects the series’ popularity with real-world discussions about the future of British agriculture.

The cricket burger tasting may divide opinion, but that appears to be part of the point. It challenges visitors to think about food, farming and sustainability in a different way. As British agriculture faces mounting pressure from costs, climate concerns and changing consumer habits, events such as Farm-Fest are placing new ideas directly in front of the public.

Whether cricket burgers become a regular part of the British diet remains uncertain. But at Stoneleigh, they are helping start a conversation that goes far beyond one unusual meal. For Clarkson and the wider farming community, the message is clear: the future of farming may not look, or taste, exactly as people expect.