Some eat to live. I, on the other hand, live to eat. Few things compare in perfection to a patty dripping with juices placed on a light bun straight from the grill, the aroma attacking your senses. However, your weekly (or in my case daily burger) may not be feasible in the near future. The Report Linker article “Global Market Study on Edible Insects: Owing to Increasing Cost of Animal Protein and Increasing Consumption of Sustainable Food to Drive Market Growth by 2024” seen on Yahoo!’s Finance page sheds light on the future of protein sources in the form of insects.
The primary motivator for the movement toward incorporating insects into diets is the lack of presently usable land. Seventy percent of cultivatable land is devoted to the purpose of raising livestock or growing food to feed to livestock, and insects would use drastically less space as they can be raised in vertical structures. Furthermore, insects are cheaper to raise as they require less food and water to reach full development. As a result, insects can be cultivated by farmers of all economic statuses and can be raised in virtually all environments. Lastly, insects can be ready for market at a much rapider rate than other livestock and poultry.
Currently, the consumption of diets is accepted in many cultures around the world but has yet to become commonplace in the west. Specialty and finer scale restaurants in the west do prepare insect dishes, but analysts predict a shift in terms of edible insects. In the near future, we can expect to see hymnoptera (wasps, bees, ants) as well as orthoptera (crickets, grasshoppers, locusts) as sources of protein. They can be served a variety of ways such as “steam[ed] or fried, raw and BBQ” as well as in “drinks, insect confectionery, snack and baked products.”
Edible insects seem like an excellent method of obtaining a cheap, nutritious protein source. After spending the summer volunteering in soup kitchen, I believe that not only those of lower socioeconomic status but rather a large portion of the population could benefit from incorporating insects into their diets. Despite all the perks, I have to admit (and I am sure I am not alone) that it will take me time to come around to the idea, so a shift in social norms must occur in order for edible insects to become part of our daily lives.
Article: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/global-market-study-edible-insects-192900568.html
Picture: Gallup, Sean. N this photo illustration a young girl pretends to eat dried mealworms seasoned with an African rub of cinnamon, coriander, pepper and other spices and bought at a store selling insects for human consumption on May 7, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. Digital image. CBS News. Getty Images, 15 Apr. 2015. Web. 21 Sept. 2016. <http://www.cbsnews.com/news/growing-appetite-for-edible-insects-a-tough-sell-in-u-s/>.
