[Rantenki]

This study doesn't propose anything that can actually move the needle for food security. It requires animal based feedstock for the Pythons, which kills the efficiency claims because you need to grow an animal of mass X in order to obtain another animal of LESS than mass X. This is just a slightly more efficient method of recycling leftover biomass. It'll never be viable as a primary protein source.

If they had suggested a viable cold blooded herbivore, we might get somewhere.

[snapplebobapple]

one of the potential food sources is waste protein from agribusiness as per the article. That makes this a useful way to gain human edible protein from a waste product, which isn't nothing but, if you are looking for on idea to save the world, this isn't it.

[metta2uall]

Wouldn't it be more efficient to convert waste proteins into fertiliser for plants? Plus, while the article makes much of the python's ability to withstand periods of scarcity, I would think storing grains/beans would be even better... for example, properly stored grains/beans aren't vulnerable to respiratory infections..

[ndgold]

You might want to give it another read. Authors anticipate this rebuttal and discuss these points.