While 2 billion people are eating insects as part as their daily diet, insects are not a high priority on the grocery list in western countries. But with more and more initiatives popping-up, we start to try these healthy creatures. Here is why you should give it a try.
With a estimated population of 9 billion people in 2050, it's necessary to find different ways to meet the food and nutrition challenges of today and tomorrow. While 1 billion people are hungry, land is scarce, seas are overfished and climate is changing, insects are a serious option to consider. While insects are not only healthy, they also provide food at low environmental cost.
With a estimated population of 9 billion people in 2050, it's necessary to find different ways to meet the food and nutrition challenges of today and tomorrow. While 1 billion people are hungry, land is scarce, seas are overfished and climate is changing, insects are a serious option to consider. While insects are not only healthy, they also provide food at low environmental cost.
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While 1 billion people are hungry, land is scarce, seas are overfished |
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Health
Insects are a healthy and nutritious food source with high fat, protein, vitamin, fibre and mineral content (iron and zinc). Because of their nutritional value, insects are to be considered as an alternative for chicken, pork, beef and even fish. For example, the composition of unsaturated omega-3 and six fatty acids in mealworms is comparable with that in fish and it's higher than in cattle and pigs. Also the protein, vitamin and mineral content of mealworms is similar to that in fish and meat. Because of their nutritional value, insects are a highly significant food source for the human population.
Environmental
Insects provide food at a low environmental cost. First of all, feed is the major requirement for land. But insect rearing is not necessarily a land-based activity and does not require land clearing to expand production. Secondly, because insects are cold-blooded, they are very efficient at converting feed into protein. Crickets, for example, need 12 times less feed than cattle, four times less feed than sheep, and half as much feed as pigs and broiler chickens to produce the same amount of protein. And finally, insects emit considerably fewer greenhouse gases than most livestock. Methane, for instance, is produced by only a few insect groups including cockroaches.
Tasty
Besides the health and environmental benefits, there are many insects to consider. Cooking insects will open a new world of flavours and textures to try in your kitchen. Some of them will remind you of traditional ingredients, while others have flavours you've never experienced before. Each insect will give an unexpected surprise to your favourite recipes.
Insects provide food at a low environmental cost. First of all, feed is the major requirement for land. But insect rearing is not necessarily a land-based activity and does not require land clearing to expand production. Secondly, because insects are cold-blooded, they are very efficient at converting feed into protein. Crickets, for example, need 12 times less feed than cattle, four times less feed than sheep, and half as much feed as pigs and broiler chickens to produce the same amount of protein. And finally, insects emit considerably fewer greenhouse gases than most livestock. Methane, for instance, is produced by only a few insect groups including cockroaches.
Tasty
Besides the health and environmental benefits, there are many insects to consider. Cooking insects will open a new world of flavours and textures to try in your kitchen. Some of them will remind you of traditional ingredients, while others have flavours you've never experienced before. Each insect will give an unexpected surprise to your favourite recipes.
Entomophagy is the human consumption of insects as food. For more information about eating insects, read the full report of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations: ‘Edible Insects: Future prospects for food and feed security’ .