Yes, you read that right. Many insects, such as crickets, are ideal for health and consumption. They are rich with protein, fibre, healthy fats, and many goodies. They are a chuck full of nutrients and may be the key to aiding hunger relief.
According to a UN report, the number of undernourished people in the world reached an estimated 815 million in 2016. A dramatic rise in food prices and depletion of food production has contributed to these numbers.
As the fight against world hunger continues, many people have sought to address this issue by alternative means: creepy crawly insects. Many organisations, institutes and companies are buying this idea, whether it be by conducting research or by providing financial support. Many start-ups are blossoming based around this new innovative measure. Among them, the start-up Aspire aims to fight world hunger by providing hunger-stricken areas with insect farms. They hope that these insect farms could eventually aid production of other food products as well. Not surprisingly, according to the CNBC, research shows that 2 billion people are already consuming insects for nutrients. In Malawi, people especially in rural areas eat insects like grasshoppers and flying termites often out of necessity because they cannot afford expensive cuisine. Not to mention mice which is a delicacy. Despite the challenge that insects are season-dependent, insect farms hold promise to tackle this bottleneck.
On another hand, there are some limitations to the idea of consuming insects and creating insect farms. There are others who think that the idea of consuming insects is revolting, hence changing perspectives will be a challenge. Additionally, many experts have contended that this may simply lead to a conglomerate monopolizing the market, driving up prices of the products. Furthermore, increasing production of insect farms to a larger scale, to the point where they will be able to compete with traditional products in terms of price and quantity, may be a painstaking process.
It is safe to say that the idea of insect farming is still in its infancy and that it has a long way to go. Whether or not it will be successful in the long run is still up in the air. Regardless, it is heartening to know that there are people out there who are dedicated to pioneering relief efforts to aid global issues that pervade so much of society.
About the Author
Audrey Loh recently obtained her bachelor’s degree in finance, with a minor in economics. She has a keen interest in international affairs and volunteer work, and hopes to pursue a career that encompasses these passions. She has travelled extensively and loves to broaden her horizons.
