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Edible Insects: Sustainable, Eco-Friendly, & Healthy
Published Date: 26 Apr 2022

A country's culture & tradition is known mainly by its food, cuisines, art, & music. Yet, above all remains the greater inclination toward food. Undoubtedly, the world is evolving swiftly & displaying a constant change in food patterns & flavors among people. It, in turn, has also demonstrated a growth in the consumption of insects (Entomophagy) across different corners of the world.

It is not something new or a taboo but pretty much an extensively consumed food in many regions. With the rise in this practice, humans are now actively participating in cultivating & harvesting different types of insects to attain numerous health benefits. We shall learn about these benefits in the blog later. Before that, let us know a little more about edible insects.

A Closer Look on Eating Insects

While Entomophagy is an ancient practice and was considered cruel at some point in time earlier, the culture & food preferences are changing & evolving rapidly. Some prominent food & agriculture associations are offering immense support to increase the count of people consuming edible insects and gaining massive attention worldwide.

With this popularity, several cafes, restaurants, and players involved in the food & beverage industry are exploring the flavor of insects and including them in their extensive food menus. Moreover, several studies by prominent researchers globally have proved that edible insects are the best alternative to animal protein, i.e., another factor instigating a massive population to consume insects.

Hence, based on these aspects, the Global Edible Insects Market is anticipated to observe a substantial growth rate during 2022-27. Furthermore, with the exponentially rising population and the growing food requirements, the production of edible insects is escalating swiftly worldwide to meet the mounting food demand. As the agriculture sector is already under massive pressure to produce crops for the growing population, harvesting insects is becoming a practical solution for sufficing the protein requirements.

Variety of Edible Insects

There are different kinds of insects that fall in the category of edibles. Listed below are some of those. Let us have a look to find out more.

  • Crickets
  • Mealworms
  • Black Soldier Flies
  • Buffalo’s
  • Grasshoppers
  • Ants
  • Silkworms
  • Cicadas
  • Beetles
  • Caterpillar, and others. 

Don't feel grossed or weird, there are high chances that you have consumed any of these edible insects already in some of the other forms. It might be a chocolate bar, potato chips, peanut butter, or something else. By far we have learned about edible insects, their types, and a brief on their popularity. So let's read the blog further to find out about the benefits of consuming edible insects. 

The Growing Popularity of Edible Insects: Key Aspects

  • Excellent Protein Source

Many might know to be aware of it, but edible insects are actually rich in protein and are among the prominent & sustainable alternatives to animal protein. Among all, insects like crickets, beetles & caterpillars are the major sources of protein. 

  • Near to No Green House Gas Emissions

Since raising livestock produces a substantial amount of methane, which contributes to carbon emission in the environment, edible insects are anticipated to play a crucial role in reducing & eliminating the effect of methane, which is actually more harmful than carbon dioxide.  

  • Nutritionally-Rich

Studies have proved that insect meat is much rich in micronutrients like calcium, protein, iron, manganese, copper, and multiple amino acids and has a lower amount of carbohydrates & fat than livestock. 

There are several other benefits that support why edible insects are gaining popularity and how they can be healthy for humans. Therefore, people from around the world are adding insects to their diet and promoting their consumption as a step forward to environmental sustainability & healthy life. 

Some Other Vital Benefits of Insects & their Bi-products

Eating insects not alone has a plethora of benefits but also provides bi-products that are rich in nutrients and offer an extensive variety of food. Bee products are one such example demonstrating how hones, propolis, and beeswax offer an extensive range of benefits to the people and are widely popular.

Similarly, Carmine (also known as cochineal) is a type of red dye that is produced by scale insects and has extensive application across industries like food, textile, and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, insects are projecting endless benefits to the people in different ways, be it eating, using, or applying, among others & generating growth opportunities for the harvesters to experiment further with the benefits of insects to expand their applications. 

Summing Up

The swiftly increasing global population levels are leading to escalating food requirements and putting immense pressure on the agriculture sector. It, in turn, is also promoting people in different countries to show interest in the consumption of edible insects, not just for flavor, but for the richness in micronutrients in order to attain a healthy life.

Hence, these factors are instigating the leading players in the Global Edible Insects Market to enhance the harvest of insects and promote a sustainable, eco-friendly, & healthy eating practice worldwide. It, in turn, would provide a significant boost to the global market in the coming years.

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