Posted on 08/17/2011 11:49:39 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Mexicans eat deep-fried grasshoppers. Japanese love wasp cookies. Leafcutter ants are considered a delicacy in Colombia, as are some caterpillars in South Africa. And in Thailand people cook everything from water beetles to bamboo worms. Even though eating insects has often been dismissed as a cultural eccentricity, it might soon become one of the answers to pressing global problems like hunger and environmental destruction.
As disgusting as the idea of eating insects may be for many, the reality is that eating insects, or entomophagy, is practised in more than half the countries in the world. There are an estimated 1,462 species of edible insects in the world, ranging from beetles, dragonflies and crickets to ant eggs and butterfly larvae, according to research by Wageningen University in the Netherlands. More than 250 species are eaten in Mexico alone.
But more than tasty snacks, insects could become a protein-rich, green and global source of food, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The FAO says the projected growth of the world’s population – around 2.3 billion more people by 2050 – will require a significant increase in food production. As a result, demand for livestock is expected to double during the next four decades. However, almost 70% of the land in use for agriculture in the world is for livestock, meaning that the need for more grazing land would bring further deforestation. Agriculture also contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and puts a strain on valuable resources like water. Finding alternative protein sources other than livestock is therefore crucial.
Insect vendors in Thailand
The FAO and scientists around the world are suggesting that insects could be a serious alternative. To begin with, insects have about the same nutritional value as beef, chicken or fish. They are easily raised in a sustainable way, since they require less land and water than cows, pigs or goats. They also reproduce at a quicker pace than mammals. What's more, people in developing countries can harvest them without owning vast properties of land or making huge financial investments.
Currently the FAO is promoting sustainable cricket farms in Laos. Meanwhile, in the United States and Europe, a small but growing number of chefs and foodies are praising the benefits of eating insects and some grocery stores like Sligro in the Netherlands have begun marketing them.
Contributors
Daniella Martin .
“Insects are not just an alternative source of food, but they’re superior in many ways”
Danielle Martin is a foodie and insect lover. She posts gourmet insect recipes on her blog “Girl Meets Bug” and hosts insect cook-offs in museums and schools across the United States.
I first encountered edible insects in Mexico, when I bought a packet of ‘chapulines’ [deep-fried grasshoppers.] I remember being suddenly surrounded by a group of children that wanted to eat them right off the table. It really struck me that entomophagy was very much alive.
Since eating insects is so unusual in the U.S., people mainly come to my presentations out of curiosity. There is a sensational aspect to it: they basically want to see the girl eating the bugs. But as they are watching and it smells like regular food to them, there is a moment of realization that bugs can be good.
Wasp cookies
I was on a trail hike in Central America when the guide pointed out a termite nest. He said these were an emergency source of protein and they taste like raw carrots.
Luckily I had been drinking so I tried some. Not bad, and they did taste like carrots. I chewed them up good because I didn’t want them crawling around my throat.
After we stop paying farmers to keep land out of production, and food prices for simple staples like rice and potatoes become expensive, THEN they can talking about eating grubs.
How to vegans fall out on bugs?
Uuuuuhhhh, I wonder how well they go with peas? /s
“Insect diet may be the solution for a hungry world”
I’m confused. I thought socialists believe that Soylent Green is the ideal solution for a hungry world.
Can’t we just eat the corn and use the insects for fuel?
When we begin eating insects how long will it be before they become endangered? We can’t build power lines right now because of some beetle that is endangered.
When we begin eating insects (enmasse) how long will it be before they become endangered? Maybe we can eat the golden eagles the wind turbines are killing.
Dat true. Most of the grain products you eat have insects ground up in them.
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