Eat The Invaders

Television ABC
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Australia’s unique biodiversity is being destroyed by the invasive plants and animals brought here by our colonial ancestors. Pests like Cane Toads, Camels, Carp, Deer, Rabbits and Cats have driven many of our native plants and animals to the brink of extinction. But what if a radical rethink could help turn this problem into an opportunity?

Over six episodes, host Tony Armstrong – with the help of scientists, land carers, an artist and a chef – will attempt to turn our unwanted ecological trash into desirable culinary gold, in a provocative attempt to Eat The Invaders .

Inspiring Tony’s culinary exploration is artist and curator Kirsha Kaechele and Executive Chef Vince Trim from Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (Mona).

After years exploring the alchemical possibilities of transforming invasive trash into high cuisine through their project Eat the Problem, they will invite Tony and a special guest to an end-of-episode feast, testing whether we could be helping save our environment by eating an invader.

Will Bob Katter really eat a poisonous cane toad? Is Dr Karl Kruszelnicki really going to consume a cat? And surely not even YouTube punk-rock cook Nat’s What I Reckon wants to eat a dumpster dolphin (aka carp)! Eat The Invaders is a must-watch ecological and culinary wake up call, connecting each one of us via our food choices to the history and future of this country. We know that eating problem species is not a simple fix-all for our environment – but it’s certainly a conversation starter.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. A Closer Productions production for the ABC. Principal production funding from Screen Australia and the ABC. Financed with support from the South Australian Film Corporation and Screen Tasmania. International sales by ABC Commercial. Writer and director: Matthew Bate. Executive Producer: Rebecca Summerton. Producer: Sarah Wormald. Creative Producer: Kirsha Kaechele. ABC Commissioning Editor: Kalita Corrigan. ABC Head of Documentary and Specialist: Susie Jones

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Eat The Invaders is set to change the conversation on our invasive species

ABC, Screen Australia, the South Australian Film Corporation and Screen Tasmania are thrilled to announce the premiere of the new factual series Eat The Invaders on Tuesday 7 January at 8.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.

Filmed around Australia by Closer Productions, Eat The Invaders looks at Australia’s unique biodiversity which is being destroyed by the invasive plants and animals brought here by our colonial ancestors. Pests like cane toads, camels, carp, cats, deer and rabbits have driven many of our native plants and animals to the brink of extinction.

But what if a radical rethink, inspired by Kirsha Kaechele’s Eat the Problem, could help turn this issue into an opportunity? Over six episodes, host Tony Armstrong – with the help of scientists, land carers, and an artist and chef from Mona – will attempt to turn our unwanted ecological trash into desirable culinary gold, in a provocative attempt to Eat the Invaders.

ABC Head of Documentary and Specialist Susie Jones said: “Eat The Invaders is a highly original series tackling one of the most significant issues in Australia in a fresh, engaging and playfully provocative manner.

“Over six captivating episodes, Tony takes us through the compelling stories of these invasive species, meeting with everyday Australians, experts, scientists and artists in an optimistic quest for solutions. We’re delighted to share this series and look forward to the conversations it provokes at dinner tables around the nation.”

Screen Australia Head of Documentary Richard Huddleston said: “Eat the Invaders serves up a creative and imaginative approach to exploring the threats to our unique biodiversity. On and off screen this series demonstrates the power of collaboration, and the result gives audiences plenty of food for thought.”

South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) CEO Kate Croser said: “The SAFC is delighted to support this new original factual series from South Australia’s Closer Productions as the latest production to come out of the ABC SAFC Content Pipeline Fund.

“Made by SA writer/director Matthew Bate and SA executive producer Rebecca Summerton utilising South Australian crew, and with all post-production to be done in the state, Eat the Invaders will showcase the diverse talents and capability of South Australia’s screen sector in an exciting and entertaining new format.”

Executive Manager of Screen Tasmania, Alex Sangston said: “Screen Tasmania is thrilled to be supporting Eat the Invaders – a series inspired by Kirsha Kaechele and Mona’s Eat the Problem project.

“The production has been assisted with $50,000 through the Screen Tasmania Production Support program, and also created a training attachment for a Tasmanian emerging practitioner.

“The series’ exploration of how to combat invasive species will certainly resonate with many Australians – and perhaps inspire some creative new household recipes.”

Closer Productions Executive Producer Rebecca Summerton said: "Eat The Invaders provocation of Australians eating (and thus helping clean up) the environmental mess caused by invasive species allows us to explore the crisis faced by our native biodiversity, the impacts of colonialism and our cultural relationship with food. We hope this program playfully opens up conversations we don’t often have around what we eat and why."

Eat The Invaders will showcase the beauty of our nation alongside the effects our invasive species are causing and spotlight the conversation on how to manage and conserve our wilderness.

PRODUCTION CREDITS:

Commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. A Closer Productions production for the ABC. Principal production funding from Screen Australia and the ABC. Financed with support from the South Australian Film Corporation and Screen Tasmania. International sales by ABC Commercial. Writer and director: Matthew Bate. Executive Producer: Rebecca Summerton. Producer: Sarah Wormald. Creative Producer: Kirsha Kaechele. ABC Commissioning Editor: Kalita Corrigan. ABC Head of Documentary and Specialist: Susie Jones.