Insects – a sustainable food choice and a key to food waste reduction

The idea of eating insects still scares out many people. The fact that insects are usually found in or around waste, and that they are commonly associated with dirt, decay, or disease contributes to another factor why people may feel uneasy feeding on them.

Nevertheless, insects could potentially be a future source of food, a major force in solving the world’s hunger. In low- and middle-income countries, the demand for the usual animal products is rising sharply as affluence increases. As the world population is reaching 9 billion in 2050, producing just enough protein to feed everyone will inevitably become even more challenging.

Insects are high in protein, low-cost, eco-friendly, and tasty. They could even replace some expensive ingredients (e.g., soybeans) as livestock feed, freeing up crops for human consumption(BBC). In fact, people have been eating insects for more than 5 million years. And it is estimated that over 2 billion people in the world eat insects daily (Science in Poland). Economically, the edible insect market is expected to grow to $6.3bn by 2030 (Barclays).

Insects produce 80 times less methane than cattle because they require much less space, feed, water, housing, and overall maintenance. While one pound of beef requires 1,850 gallons and one pound of chicken uses 500 gallons of water, crickets require only 1 gallon (Greenbiz).

These environmental benefits can translate into better, more sustainable food consumption, not only solving the world’s hunger but also contributing to a reduction in food waste.

For people who still cannot bear the idea of eating insects themselves but still want to take part in sustainable food consumption, a food-based startup called Jiminy’s has replaced animal protein in dog treats with insect protein. According to the startup, 25-30% of the environmental impact of meat consumption in the U.S. comes from feeding cats and dogs. In 2020, dog owners helped save more than 218 million gallons of water and prevented the release of 20.5 million grams of greenhouse gases by switching from traditional dog treats to Jiminy’s. Just as with humans, insects can be a healthy, sustainable snack for dogs, too (Jiminy’s website).

A similar concept can also be found in many other startups such as Beobia (eco-growing pods that allow consumers to cultivate mealworm farms using food waste), AgriProtein (nutrient recycling by replacing fishmeal with insect-based protein in aquaculture), and Cricket One Asia (processing of crickets as the highest quality and most sustainable ingredients for food, beverages, and cosmetics).