Eating insects can carry a much lower environmental footprint than conventional meat. Should western cultures be incorporating more of them into their diets?
Feeding insects instead of grain to animals is an inexpensive, sustainable way to increase the world food supply. An animal scientist explains what’s involved in developing insect feed for cattle.
Insects have long been identified as a protein-rich and nutritious food, and are eaten across various cultures outside the West – including across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Unfortunately, it’s likely you brought them home yourself. Most pantry moth infestations probably start when we inadvertently bring home eggs and caterpillars in our dried foods.
Insect farming is growing in popularity as an alternative to traditional livestock and feed production. A scholar evaluates what that means in terms of trillions of insect lives.
Two billion people already eat ‘prawns of the land’, so why don’t many Australians? A new CSIRO industry roadmap on edible insects explains why we should bring bugs into mainstream diets.
Awareness is increasing about foods like lab-grown meat, insects and seaweed. These foods may help address environmental challenges, but it’s important to be aware of both the costs and benefits.
Canadians are increasingly looking to alternatives to meat to get their protein. Pulses like lentils and chickpeas are becoming more popular. Will insects find a way onto our plates too?
Saliou Niassy, University of Pretoria and Sunday Ekesi, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology
Insects have often been described with words like “disgusting” and the idea of eating them horrifies some people. But this needs to change as they can be an important food source.