Irrespective of edible insects benefits being touted by entomology experts, most people would still have reservations about trying out grubby protein. So, the question goes to you: “Would you be patriotic enough to save the planet by embracing insect protein?” Eating bugs as sustainable protein sources may sound strange to people in the global West. However, there is evidence that including insects in diets is no longer news in places like South America, Africa, and Asia.
Welcome to this discussion about entomophagy, a concept that involves eating insects as a dietary protein source. Lately, there has been some buzz about insect-based protein because it’s natural, easy to source, and planet-friendly.
This piece will not limit itself to the glitz of adopting insect proteins alone. Instead, it will equally consider the identifiable barriers and leave you to decide whether to give eating insects a try or ditch the idea.
Edible Insects: Benefits and Nutritional Upsides
Eating bugs would probably not be a subject of global discussion, but for their protein content. According to a 2024 review, endorsed by the National Institute of Health (NIH), insects may contain between 14-76% protein by dry weight. As if the high protein content of insects was not enough, studies have identified insect protein to consist largely of essential amino acids.
Insects are also low in carbs, and some are equally rich in unsaturated oils—touted as healthier than saturated fats. They are also a good source of micronutrients like the B vitamins, zinc, iron and magnesium.
Someone is probably reading this and wondering: “Why point out edible insects benefits without suggesting examples, or are all insects safe?” Now, it is necessary to explain that the idea behind entomophagy does not involve venturing into the woods in your neighborhood to prospect for bugs. Instead, it means raising edible insects in controlled and hygienic environments. According to Sujaya Rao, PhD, a professor of entomology, insects possess great dietary potential because they are nutrient-dense, “alternative foods that can be raised in small environments and are easy to raise.”
Here are some of the most common edible insects that you can try out:
- Cicadas
- Larvae of the Black Soldier Fly
- Grasshoppers
- Termites
- Mealworms
- Crickets
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5 Environmental Advantages of Eating Bugs
In a 2022 report, the World Economic Forum (WEF) identified reasons why insects are sustainable protein sources. Let us look at some edible insects benefits and how they improve the earth’s climate.
1. The Protein Profile of Insects Matches that of Other Animal Sources
It has been scientifically proven that the edible insects listed earlier are dense sources of protein. Of course, protein profile varies between insect species and individual insects, but bugs can serve as sustainable diet solutions.
2. Insects are Easy to Raise Relative to Other Livestock
Experts have formulated the logic that edible insects are a better source of protein than other regular animal sources like beef or chicken. For one, insects require far fewer resources to raise and are very efficient at converting feed to edible nutrients.
The feed, land and water footprint for raising 500 kilograms of cricket is way less than the amount required for the same weight of beef. Like insects, the greenhouse emissions of plant-protein sources are almost zero. Meanwhile, proteinous plants require vast land and other farm inputs. So, by far, insects are some of the cheapest protein sources, and are also planet-friendly.
3. Protein Sources are Becoming Insufficient
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) projects that the population of sapiens will hit 9 billion by 2050. Unfortunately, our average diet today is not meeting the required protein supply for the planet.
However, the World Resources Institute (WRI) is confident that sustainable protein sources will supply the dietary demand by 2050. The WRI’s only caveat is that stakeholders start sensitizing people about adopting alternative sustainable diet solutions.
4. Insects Can Be the Key to Waste Management
Research and pilot-scale insect farms have revealed that bugs are net users of organic waste. So, rather than worry about upcycling food waste with expensive technology, it can become a duty-free input for insect farmers.
In a way, eating bugs can decongest landfills and cut their greenhouse gas generation. Once enough people embrace insect-based protein, the demand will skyrocket. This spike in demand will cause an increase in the number of insect farms and a significant drop in global organic waste.
5. Insects Can Serve As an Indirect Protein Source
So far, the discussion has been about edible insects. What if you don’t have to eat bugs, and still get dietary benefits from their protein? For example, there are reports that cockroach farming has become a trend in China. While some Asians eat certain species of farmed cockroaches, a large percentage of these insects serve as an indirect protein source.
Cockroaches are popular as rich protein sources in animal feed. It is also being used in medicine and cosmetics. So, you don’t have to eat roaches, but they can serve as feed for familiar protein sources like fish, poultry, or pork that eventually end up on your plate.
Barriers in Western Markets
Public perception is obviously a limiting factor for the adoption of insect-based protein in the West. Most folks care nothing for edible insects benefits, all they see are slithering bugs. Professor Rao explains that it’s all in the mind. According to her, if you love seafood like prawns and lobsters, then you can love insects. Those crustaceans, like insects in the terrestrial ecosystem, are bottom-feeders beneath the aquatic waves.
Meanwhile, sojourning through South America, Africa, and Asia reveals that entomophagy is widely practiced in these places. Imagine being offered scorpions-on-stick at a street food stall in Thailand or locust as a side dish while vacationing in Madagascar.
Market Innovations by Insect Protein Producers
Since the ‘Yuck’ factor makes it almost inconceivable for most Westerners to eat bugs, food innovators have stepped up their game. The idea of the innovations being the adoption of insect-based proteins is psychological. No more are pro-insect chefs or food manufacturers placing insects on plates like you’d do a lobster. However, nutritious insects are being processed into powder and incorporated into meal blends.
Some food brands offer insects as packaged protein powder, while some serve it up in snack bars. Regulatory bodies, of course, ensure that manufacturers of products like cricket flour are transparent about the systems and processes involved.
Touting things like cricket flour benefits may not make the average Yankee tick. Nonetheless, food companies like Bitty Food, One Hop Kitchen, Bugsolutely, and Jiminis are already making a case for insect-based products in the United States.
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Health & Safety Considerations of Entomophagy
Full disclosure on food packages, including insect powder in their formulation, is essential. This will avert potential litigation arising from food allergy cases. Individuals who have been identified as allergic to shellfish should steer clear of insect-based products. ‘Why,’ you ask? Well, insects contain similar allergens, tropomyosis, as shellfish, and may trigger severe reactions in allergic individuals.
Insects, even farmed ones, can become potential vectors of foodborne intoxication and infections. Most of the risk factors in insect farming have been identified to be influenced by feed, insect species, and harvesting methods. So, it is essential to monitor these factors, particularly the use of organic and hazard-free feed substrates.
Again, edible insects benefits are likely to do the planet and our diet a lot of good. However, it may be too ideal as an absolute protein source for global adoption. Cultural reservations and personal dietary preferences are likely to hamper the widespread adoption of insects as a dietary protein source.
Edible insects may not be the future of food for everyone, but they could be a vital part of feeding a growing planet.
