E N T O M O P H A G Y

EDIBLE INSECTS. THE FUTURE SOURCE OF OUR PROTEINS

Scientists believe that in the very near future, because of ongoing many deleterious factors, if no immediate corrective measures aren’t taken, the world food security will be in jeopardy.

Among them, the massive monocultural agriculture will destroy biological diversity and biological renewal of soil fertility and cause severe soil erosion. More and more altered GMO seeds, artificial fertilizers, insecticides chemicals would be used without increasing any significant yields.

Ongoing climate change will alter the temperature and precipitation patterns around the world, causing severe draught or deluge, severe damaging storms, and rising sea levels.

Deliberate destruction of the world’s tropical forests which are considered the lungs of the world for obtaining more land for agriculture and animal grazing, would increase CO2 level and accelerate climate warming.

Continuing use of fossil fuels for energy production instead of renewable energy sources, eliminating pollution regulation for big industries, would pollute the environment and add even more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.  

To feed the steadily increasing the world population, which is already over 7.7 billion, with the same measures would backfire, creating more soil erosion and add more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

Continuing to consider food waste as part of business loss, which is estimated to be 40% of food production for tax deductions, without trying to find a better solution for food waste, would cause more environmental pollution and add to the hunger of masses.

When there is natural and more efficient protein source in nature, trying to raise more and more farm animals for protein needs of the increasing world population, would require more land, more water and feeding resources. In addition, farm animals emit more greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming.

As humans, we are anatomically created as plants eaters (herbivores) but we chose to eat both plants and meat. We became omnivore later. We can easily survive a healthier life as a vegetarian, like many of us do, and we can add edible insects to our diet as source of protein like our ancient ancestors. Anthropological studies have shown that our hunter-gatherer ancestors valued insects as food for millenniums.

At the present time, people in many countries eat insects as important source of protein without any concerns. For example, in Thailand people love snaking on grasshoppers, crickets and woodworms. In Mexico, ant eggs are considered “Mexican caviar.” People in all the countries of the world eat insects.

Insects are nutritious and packed with proteins, essential nutrients, minerals, vitamins, healthy fats (monosaturated), omega 3, fibers, pre and probiotics. Some caterpillars have more proteins by weight than a turkey leg.

Insects emit much less greenhouse gases than farm animals. They convert their feed to proteins much more efficiently without any waste. They require significantly less land, water and food to thrive. So, it is an ecological advantage to add insects to our diet on worldwide basis to fight global warming.

According to UN Food and Agriculture Organization, there are about 1,900 edible bugs in the world. Among them, grasshoppers, crickets, cicadas, cockroaches, termites, ants, wasps, bees, beetles, butterflies, caterpillars, wood worms, meal worms, dragonflies top the list.

Problems for many of us about insects remain. We fear insects; it is gross and filthy to eat insects; we could get sick or poisoned by eating insects. Indeed, many insects can transmit a number of infectious agents like viruses (yellow fever, dengue fever), bacteria (Lyme disease. plagues), parasites (Malaria, sleeping sickness, leishmaniosis, filariasis).

Public concerns about eating insects must be addressed by the Government agencies and worldwide research organizations. Under strict regulations, industrial scale of safe and clean edible insects must be produced for mass consumption. Only than by educations and proper cooking instructions, public trust could be gained, public phobia could be remedied.

Whether we like it or not, eating insects is our dietary destiny.