The first thing that comes to mind at the sight of a bug isn't exactly "Mmmm, lunch!" But don't be...
TUESDAY, 28 OCTOBER 2014
The first thing that comes to mind at the sight of a bug isn't exactly "Mmmm, lunch!" But don't be surprised if you find the option for "beetle buffet" on the menu; within the next several years, eating insects as a primary source of protein may be nothing out of the ordinary. Over the last couple of years, the United Nations along with National Geographic have been pressing all the benefits of eating bugs over our usual livestock. Some of these benefits include dietary efficiency, a less severe environmental impact, and a cheaper cost of production. A cricket can provide you with the same amount of protein as cattle, while it processes its feed 12X as efficiently. Which not only means that it will create less waste, and waste less feed, but that it can actually convert our existing waste into useful protein! Also, the life span of insects is much shorter, and they can reproduce in larger numbers more quickly, so meals will be plentiful and quick. On top of that, the green house gas production from farming insects over mammals (such as pigs) is less than half, and the space needed for land less than a third the size. So although it might be hard to swallow (pun intended), this is definitely a great step towards sustaining a growing population at minimal cost to the earth.
![](mailto:?subject="Can I please get a fly in my soup?"&body=https://bluesci.soc.srcf.net/posts/can-i-please-get-a-fly-in-my-soup <div class='caption'><div id="attachment_10614" align="alignright" width="230" caption="Within the next several years, eating insects as a primary source of protein may be nothing out of the ordinary"><a href="https://bluesci.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Bugs.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-10614 " title="Bugs" src="https://bluesci.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Bugs.jpg" alt="" width="230" height="230" /></a></div></div>The first thing that comes to mind at the sight of a bug isn't exactly "Mmmm, lunch!" But don't be surprised if you find the option for "beetle buffet" on the menu; within the next several years, eating insects as a primary source of protein may be nothing out of the ordinary. Over the last couple of years, the United Nations along with National Geographic have been pressing all the benefits of eating bugs over our usual livestock. Some of these benefits include dietary efficiency, a less severe environmental impact, and a cheaper cost of production. A cricket can provide you with the same amount of protein as cattle, while it processes its feed 12X as efficiently. Which not only means that it will create less waste, and waste less feed, but that it can actually convert our existing waste into useful protein! Also, the life span of insects is much shorter, and they can reproduce in larger numbers more quickly, so meals will be plentiful and quick. On top of that, the green house gas production from farming insects over mammals (such as pigs) is less than half, and the space needed for land less than a third the size. So although it might be hard to swallow (pun intended), this is definitely a great step towards sustaining a growing population at minimal cost to the earth.){kind=link}
