According to the UN World Population Prospects, the world’s population will grow to about 9.6 billion by 2050 and to sustain such growth, humans will have to produce twice as much food. Raising animals for food, however, is expected to cause food shortages due to the environmental pollution and large consumption of resources. Now, we need to turn to edible insects. Edible insects are ones that can be eaten, which are a type of future food. Here are some examples.

There are several kinds of edible insects, such as mealworms, grasshoppers, silkworm pupae and crickets as food sources in Korea. Canned silkworm pupae are sold in retail markets and processed as snacks. Additionally, grasshoppers are eaten in rural areas. A Japanese dish called inago is made of fried grasshoppers seasoned with soy sauce. Moreover, bee or wasp larvae and adults are considered expensive delicacies; they are eaten raw, boiled with soy sauce, or served with rice. 

The practice of eating insects has existed in China for over 2000 years and approximately 324 species from 11 orders are consumed. India has the developed multiple uses for insects, including silk, fertilizer, food, and medicine. Notably, eri silkworm pupae is a delicacy in northeastern India. Overall, about 255 species are used as food, although the intensity varies depending on seasonal or regional differences in culture. The edible insects are consumed a lot in Asia.

Then why are edible insects getting more attention these days? Insects are like meat and even contain more nutrients. They have three times more protein than beef. They account for about 70 percent of the lives on the earth, but need fewer resources and spaces to be raised than general animals. For example, if you have only 10% of the space where you raise cows to get the same amount of protein, you can get it from insects. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said that these are “high in protein, good fats, calcium, iron and zinc.” It also said that using insects as food can help “increase dietary quality as sources of protein.” Edible insects are also known as environmentally friendly. The trend is all around the world.

Many people are unwilling to try dishes made with insects, so companies have developed different products that include insects, such as powder, pasta, noodles, cookies, and energy bars. Using edible insects as food is beneficial to the environment and good for health. It may be that, in the not-too-distant future, we will eat insects instead of rice!