The un has some advice for the starving people of the world that may bug you: eating insects may just be the future of food.
A new UN report says that eating insects (high in protein, low in fat) can help fight global warming, pollution, and yes, hunger. And if the suggestion catches on, it could even be great for small businesses.
The concept of eating insects as part of a regular diet is known as entomophagy and is already practiced by an estimated 2 billion people, according to a report issued on Monday by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.
Last year the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation named All Things Bugs, a company founded by Dr Aaron Dossey, as the winner of the foundation’s annual Grand Challenges Explorations contest.
The group received a grant to pursue its project to come up with viable insect protein options to combat malnutrition in children.
So, which bugs earned the UN’s seal of approval? Well, there are reportedly more than 1 900 edible insect species. The international governing body suggested people try red ants, bees, caterpillars, crickets, grasshoppers, locusts, wasps and certain types of water beetles.
And why do insects provide a viable alternative to other livestock?
That is because on average insects produce less greenhouse gas than larger animals and require a smaller ratio of food compared to the amount of sustenance they provide. – Sapa-AP