The Potential for Entomophagy to Address Undernutrition

Abstract

The use of insects as food for humans has the potential to substantially reduce undernutrition worldwide. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that 805 million people are undernourished, with a total food energy deficit of 67.6 billion kcal/day (84 kcal/day/person). Calculations in this article suggest that this deficit could theoretically be reduced or eliminated through edible insect rearing, utilizing organic side streams as feed, on 15,586 to 92,976 ha.

Why we still don't eat insects: Assessing entomophagy promotion through a diffusion of innovations framework

“…If the demands of entomophagy are not balanced against the needs of conservationists, via sustainable harvests with appropriate habitat management or with farming, the ecological advantages might be lost (Yen, 2009b). Thus, if one's goal is feeding a growing human population on diminishing land and in the face of climate change (Nadeau, Nadeau, Franklin, & Dunkel, 2014), then promoting nonanimal diets, nose-to-tail feeding, or IVM may be better alternatives than entomophagy, as their relative advantages are higher (Tucker, 2014).…”

“…The appeal of insects is their higher conversion efficiency relative to livestock, so perhaps the solution is to increase the latter using the former (DeFoliart, 1975;. Rearing insects on organic side streams or on waste compounds humans cannot process, then feeding them to traditional livestock normally fed all-plant diets ( van Huis, 2013;Nadeau et al, 2014), will not only reduce waste but also the ecological footprint of the livestock, which can convert insects to flesh much more easily (Ramos-Elorduy, 2008). Some reports even claim the meat from livestock fed insects tastes better (Ramos-Elorduy, 1998).…”

Effect of protein and carbohydrate feed concentrations on the growth and composition of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae

“…One of these problems is the 805 million undernourished people in the world. Insects are rich in minerals and vitamins, and it has been proposed that they would be able to provide a healthy alternative food source (Gahukar, 2011;Nadeau et al, 2015). Nadeau et al (2015) suggest that if 15,586 -92,976 ha 2 was devoted to insect rearing, it could reduce or eliminate this problem.…”

“…Insects are rich in minerals and vitamins, and it has been proposed that they would be able to provide a healthy alternative food source (Gahukar, 2011;Nadeau et al, 2015). Nadeau et al (2015) suggest that if 15,586 -92,976 ha 2 was devoted to insect rearing, it could reduce or eliminate this problem. Another problem to which entomophagy could offer a solution is overfishing, with populations of fish such as the Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) reportedly at 20% of their original population (Eriksson and Andersson, 2010).…”

Reducing the global environmental impact of livestock production: the minilivestock option

“…The risk, though, can be minimized with preservation methods that are simple and inexpensive (Klunder et al, 2012). Nadeau et al, (2014) have estimated that 30.2 million kg of mealworms per day would provide all the energy needed to erase the 67.6 billion Kcal/day energy deficit of the world's undernourished (FAO 2014 a,b). If even half the production can be done using organic waste as feed, about 1600 ha-or 0.0003% of the almost 5 billion hectares of agricultural land in the world-would be needed M A N U S C R I P T A C C E P T E D ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 15 to produce all of the energy required to erase the abovementioned deficit.…”