Eating Smart

We all know that reducing CO2 emissions, recycling and conserving water are also some ways to save our environment. However, not many people will know that eating insects is also a way to save the environment.

A recent report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that 26% of earth’s surface is used for livestock grazing and one-third of earth’s arable land is used to grow livestock feed. Usage of land for livestock doesn’t stop there. In Brazil, 70% of defrosted land is used as pasture and in Botswana, 23% of water is consumed by the livestock industry. Eighteen percent of global greenhouse emissions is attributed to the livestock industry which is more than transportation related sources. Livestock production also causes soil erosion and depletes our food supply as well.

Facts and figures show that livestock industry has an irreversible impact on our environment. This is where insects come in. Rather than raising livestock to feed ourselves and at the same time destroying our environment, we can substitute insects as source of protein.

FAO has estimated that there are 1,462 species of recorded edible insects and there are still hundreds or thousands of species that have not been tried or even discovered yet. And globally it is estimated that about two billion people consume insects as part of their diets.

Consumption of insects shows similar trend in Korea as well. The edible-insect market is currently worth 1 billion won ($857 million), which is small compared to the U.S and Europe, but the trend is growing fast.

CJ CheilJedang, one of Korea’s largest food-processing company of Korea announced last moth that it is looking into edible insects as a smart alternative to traditional protein such as meat. 

“Protein sources, such as meat, have production limitations. Insects are much higher in protein and sustainable to farm. This could become the future of food,” said Kim Hyun-dong, publicist for CJ CheilJedang in an article published by Korean Herald.

The article also stated that grasshoppers, crickets, mealworms and honey ants insects are usually used for cooking as they are all rich in protein and minerals. They also contain high amounts of unsaturated fatty acid.

While a plate of grasshoppers cannot replace a juicy steak or a hamburger, it can be a substitute for the protein we normally find in beef.  

Posted by Daniel Kim