Edible Insects

It is said that the population of Earth will approximately reach around nine billion people by 2050. Obviously, we would need to increase our food production as the population on Earth sky rockets. A difficult task lays ahead of us as we have to produce surpluses with diminishing resources. However, adding insects to our diet may be the solution to our arising problem. Eating insects are beneficial to our livelihoods as they support our health, environment, and our economy.

Surprisingly insects produce a lot of the necessary nutrients a human body needs. It contains various amino acids, vitamins, proteins, and several other important minerals. Edible insects may act as alternatives to expensive meat such as chicken, beef, pork, and fish. For example, adult grasshoppers have similar levels of protein when it's compared to raw beef. Locusts and grasshoppers produce 13-28 grams of protein per 100 gram of fresh weight, while a cattle produces 19-26 grams of protein per 100 grams of fresh weight. Insects can also be produced more efficiently as they require less time to grow and require less resources to grow. They can even be fed off of organic waste while livestocks require significant time and effort.

Insects also emit less greenhouse gases compared to livestocks. Livestocks are responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions. Raising insects and reducing the production of livestocks will significantly benefit our environment. It is also important to notice the rise of food prices as the cost to feed animals increased. This especially takes a toll on the farmers, which is why the prices of meat are increasing globally. On the other hand, a cricket costs 12 times less to feed than a cattle.

 In the Western world, many people view insects as disgusting and unwanted creatures. In order to introduce insects to our diet, it is important to shift this cultural norm. Insects are already a traditional diet in some regions. However, it would be effective for the Western world to make this diet mainstream. Insects don't have to be eaten fresh as many people are displeased by the texture and looks. Insects can be crushed and disguised in regular food so that the consumer would not notice at all.

The Papillon's Kitchen in Seoul is an example of a restaurant that includes insects in various types of food.

By Daniel Kim