"Bug" Burgers Anyone?
Imagine if you will, you made the trip to Switzerland (for whatever it may be work, vacation, study abroad, etc.), you have seen the Alps, tried the chocolate, and now you are hungry for a protein-filled meal. On your way back to the hotel, you stop off at a grocery store and see the burger section. You quickly grab some patties labeled as sustainable because you are environmentally conscious, but as you prepare to leave the burger section, you realize these are insect burgers. What do you do?
Insects are the largest taxonomic group
of any animal in creation, and they provide numerous ecosystem
services vital to human and ecosystem flourishing. More recently, insects
have been receiving more attention for services that may not be so commonly
associated with them. This would be the growing market for insect farming. This
type of agribusiness has been technically going on for centuries. The
historical practices of apiculture
and sericulture are probably
some of the most well-known insect farming uses globally. These forms are based
on the use of insect products such as honey, beeswax, and silk. Not as deep in
the past, the use of insects for food in regions such as Asia also contributes
to insect farming. Crickets, for example, are commonly eaten in Thailand (Figure
1) along with other insects.
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Figure 1: Insects sold in Thailand https://migrationology.com/how-to-eat-scary-insects-worms-and-bugs-in-thailand/
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The production of more protein for
a growing global population has become an issue of greater concern in recent
years. To mitigate this dilemma, insect farms have been proposed and implemented
to create a new source of high-quality protein. Part of this is the breeding of insects for human
consumption. Crickets and buffalo worms are the most commonly used for Human
consumption. Insect farming requires the
right environmental conditions to prevent infection from pathogens and allow
for maximum growth rate per life stage. Many insects are raised in vertical
farms (Figure 2), which allows for insect waste to accumulate at the bottom while
still allowing for space above for the insects of choice. This waste is also
useful and profitable, as it can be used as a fertilizer. These are often climate-controlled as well to allow
for optimal conditions. These insects are often fed with waste materials. This is
seen as especially environmentally friendly because research has suggested that
this way can generate up to 90% less greenhouse gases compared to landfill or
composting. Additionally, insect farming saves between 50% and 90% of land that
would be used in comparison to conventional livestock (Figure 3).
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Figure 2: A vertical Black Soldier Fly insect farm |
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Figure 3: CO2 Saving from Insect Farming |
Perhaps the most promising insect
being farmed is the Black Soldier Fly (BSF). This dipteran is more efficient
than mealworms and simpler to raise than crickets. The use of waste as food
does incur regulation, with places like Europe placing standards on what BSFs
can be used for, depending on their diet. BSFs are not yet permitted to be used
for human consumption by the European Union (EU). However, the EU still allows
BSFs to be used in products like animal feed. This allows for a new option for high-protein
feed for poultry, pigs, aquaculture, and even pet food. This can help to reduce
the dependence on crops like soy and corn, as well as potentially improve the protein
intake for livestock that is dependent on these crops.
So, the goal for insect protein does not mean
that humans need to completely stop eating livestock, poultry, etc., as sources
of protein entirely. However, the incorporation of insects into the feed of the
livestock and poultry that we eat could be helpful, especially in reducing
dependence on large crops like soy and corn while reducing carbon footprints. To
return to our initial question, I would probably place the insect burger back
on the shelf, but if there were options for livestock raised on insect meal, I
believe I could stomach it.
References:
https://flybox.bio/insect-farming
https://www.britannica.com/topic/sericulture
https://migrationology.com/how-to-eat-scary-insects-worms-and-bugs-in-thailand/
https://earth.org/insect-farming
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