The Contribution of Insects to Food Security, Livelihoods and the Environment

Can insects contribute to food and feed security? Yes. Population growth, urbanization and the rising middle class have increased the global demand for food, especially animal based protein sources. One of the many ways to address food and feed security is through insect farming. Insects are everywhere and they reproduce quickly, and they have high growth and feed conversion rates and a low environmental footprint over their entire life cycle. They are nutritious, with high protein, fat and mineral contents. They can be reared on waste streams like food waste. Moreover, they can be eaten whole or ground into a powder or paste, and incorporated into other foods. The use of insects on a large scale as a feed ingredient is technically feasible, and established companies in various parts of the world are already leading the way in this regard. Insects as feedstock for aquaculture and poultry feed are likely to become more prevalent within the next decade.