Contribution of edible insects to food security
To feed a growing world population with progressively more demanding consumers, food production needs to be increased. This puts a heavy pressure on already limited resources of land, fertilizers and energy, while greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, deforestation, and environmental degradation will increase. The need for alternative protein sources (other than “meat” from livestock) is urgent. Promoting edible insects may mitigate the livestock crises. However, if no action is undertaken this food habit will soon disappear. More than 2000 species of insects are eaten worldwide, mainly in developing countries. Edible insects constitute high quality food for humans, livestock, poultry and fish. Because insects are cold blooded, they have a high food conversion rate. Besides, they emit less greenhouse gases than conventional livestock. In some cases insects can be grown on organic waste reducing environmental contamination. Therefore, edible insects are a serious alternative for conventional production or other animal based protein sources, either for direct human consumption, or indirectly as feedstock. In the developing world, a re-evaluation of the food resource is required, while in the western world processing technology needs to be developed in order to make it an acceptable food item.
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Worldwide species list: The list of more than 2000 edible insect species