5 Importance of eating insects and how they could save world hunger

In this article, we will discuss the 5 Importance of eating insects and how they could save world hunger. Insects are considered highly nutritional; the majority of them are rich in protein, healthy fats, iron, and calcium and low in carbohydrates.

According to the United Nations, by 2050, if the current trends continue, the world’s population will reach 9.8 billion. As a result, global demand for food and feed is expected to increase by 70 per cent, putting additional pressure on already overexploited agricultural resources.

Well, think about this: the United Nations predicts that by 2050 if current trends continue, the world’s population will reach 9.8 billion. As a result, global demand for food and feed is expected to increase by 70 per cent, putting additional pressure on already overexploited agricultural resources.

In other to meet the considerable challenge of ensuring food security for the future, it is imperative to find alternative and sustainable sources of protein, both for direct human consumption and for animal feed.

Insect-derived proteins are one possible solution. Insects, especially fly larvae, have many qualities that make them well adapted to animal feed.

For example, insects are already a natural source of food for pigs and poultry as well as for many fish species. In addition, insect larvae are generally high in protein and are rich in other beneficial nutrients such as fats, minerals and vitamins.

As said earlier, we will discuss 5 Importance of eating insects and how they could save world hunger

1. Insects are Nutritious

No doubt, insects are filled with lots of good nutrients, including amino acids and protein. This creepy crawlies may look small, but they can provide as much – if not more – protein than beef!

And many insect species have less than 5g of fat per serving.

2. Insects are good for the environment

Not only is eating insects good for you, but it is also good for the environment too.

Entomophagy – which means eating insects – could help to fight world hunger and reduce pollution. The world’s population is growing, so we need to produce more food to feed everyone – and there are lots of insects to go around.

Farmed animals traditionally need a lot of space, so compared to producing meat, bugs don’t take up much land, water or feed. Not only that, but unlike cattle, insect farming produces fewer greenhouse gases.

3. Eating Insects could combat obesity

Since the majority of insects have low-fat content, researchers – such as those involved in the FAO report – suggest that entomophagy may be an effective way to combat obesity and its related diseases.

Insects are considered highly nutritional; the majority of them are rich in protein, healthy fats, iron, and calcium and low in carbohydrates.

In fact, the authors of the FAO report claim that insects are just as – if not more – nutritious than commonly consumed meats, such as beef.

For example, 100 grams of cricket contains around 121 calories, 12.9 grams of protein, 5.5 grams of fat, and 5.1 grams of carbohydrates. While 100 grams of ground beef contains more protein – around 23.5 grams – it is also much higher in fat, containing around 21.2 grams.

4. Eating Insects Help Combat Food Shortage

Another truthful and important reality about eating insects is that they help combat food shortages.

According to The World Bank, the global population is expected to increase to 9 billion by 2050, which means we need to produce around 50 per cent more food in order to feed an extra 2 billion people.

Therefore,  eating insects could help offer a solution to the food shortage that is expected to occur with the growing population, the FAO report said.

With climate change expected to reduce crop yields by more than 25 per cent, there is an urgent need to identify alternative ways to meet the need for additional food.

5. You might already be eating insect

If you’re still not sold on the idea of introducing insects into your diet, you probably won’t welcome this piece of information about the Importance of eating insects with open arms: and you might already be eating them without knowing.

The Defect Levels HandbookTrusted Source from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shows that when it comes to food products, there is nothing wrong with a bit of bug.

Does the idea of eating insects bug you? Lol.