Scar tissue: Snail slime saves the day

Giant snails previously spurned as pests that ruined crops are now being bred for their precious slime, which provides farmers with economic security, helps generate jobs and raises awareness about the benefits of going green.

The African giant snails, blamed for invading farms and rice fields, are typically found in the wild but they can also be bred for commercial purposes. In the farms, the snails feed mainly on organic vegetables and are bred for their precious slime.  Photos by Jetjaras Na Ranong

The snails are traditionally picked from rice fields and disposed of as waste. However, that practice is now being upended after the snails have proven to be a commercial goldmine in the cosmetics business.