Edible Insects Reduce Global Warming

At the outset, this essay identifies the three prime contributors to global warming. These are fossil fuel burning, deforestation and livestock farming. Globally, fossil fuel burning generates 64% of human greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation 18%, and livestock farming between 13% and 18% (estimates from UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Skeptical Science, n.d.).

Within its limited scope, this essay chooses next to focus on how to reduce greenhouse gas emission due to livestock farming. Because the other two triggers, namely, fossil fuel burning, and deforestation, have already attracted substantial media attention.

Thus,  this essay  does not discuss the ways of reducing greenhouse gas emission due to fossil fuel burning and deforestation even though those two are essential too. Instead, it chooses the third of these three prime contributors, namely, the livestock farming sector and narrates how livestock farming contributes significantly to human greenhouse gas emissions.

Finally, this essay discusses how edible insects are beginning to be recognized globally as an alternative source of sustainable and environmentally friendly source of protein. They are partially replacing livestock protein to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of this essay is to inform the reader about the globally growing edible insect market, which is partially replacing the livestock market.

As mentioned earlier, livestock farming is one of the top three sources of greenhouse gases.  Ruminant animals (hoofed, mammal, cud-chewing quadrupeds), like cattle, produce methane, which is  20 times more potent than carbon dioxide.  The livestock sector generates 37% of human-caused methane emissions and 65% of human nitrous oxide emissions (mainly from manure) (FAO). Additionally, the livestock sector contributes to global warming due to the expansion of pastureland and arable land for growing feed-crops for the livestock. Because such an expansion inevitably leads to further deforestation.

Ruminant animals produce methane that other sources (e.g. chickens) do not. Producing meat, for example, requires 28 times more land, six times more fertilizer, and 11 times more water than producing chicken.  Consequently, the meat releases greenhouse gases five times as much as an equivalent amount of poultry. (Skeptical Science, n.d.)

 This concern regarding the adverse effect of livestock farming on the environment has prompted a search for an alternative source of edible protein that is sustainable and environmentally friendly.  Edible insects provide such an alternative source of ready protein. The demand and human consumption of edible insects are growing globally. Several factors are driving the global growth of edible insect market. These factors are listed below:

                                i.            Growing human population and decreasing food resources

                              ii.            Increasing demand for protein-rich food

                            iii.            High cost of animal protein

                             iv.            Environmental sustainability of production and consumption of edible insects. FAO says insects emit fewer greenhouse gases. They emit less ammonia than cattle or pigs and require much less land and water.

                               v.            High nutritional value of insects, which are rich in vitamins and proteins

                             vi.            Selected insects are safe for human consumption and

                           vii.            Low risk of insect protein in transmitting zoonotic diseases (diseases that pass from an animal or insect to a human).     

On the other hand, the list below gives the factors that are restraining the growth of edible insect market:

                                i.            Non-standardized regulatory framework across the globe

                              ii.            Lack of awareness and traditional psychological and ethical barriers and

                            iii.            Allergies due to insect consumption.

Despite the three restraining factors, the global edible insects market driven by the seven positive factors has shown a steady growth pattern in recent years. The current annual growth rate is 24% CAGR (compounded annual growth rate).  At this rate of growth, the global edible insect market will grow to USD 1.2 billion, or INR 8,600 crore in 2023. (Reuters Plus, 2018).

So far, the Asia Pacific countries have had the largest share in the global edible insect market. However, currently, the edible insect market of North American countries is growing fast. Several factors drive the growth in North American countries. These factors are: (a) increasing demand for environmentally friendly protein diets, (b) aversion to processed foods,  (c ) presence of many insect-based food product manufactures, and (d) the concerns about meat production mentioned earlier (Reuters Plus, 2018).

So, which of the insects are edible? These are crickets, mealworms, black soldier flies, buffalos, grasshoppers, ants, silkworms, cicadas, and the number is growing. FAO says that there are more than 1,900 edible insect species.

Figure 1: Edible Insects on offer in London, the United Kingdom - November 26, 2018 (Reuters Plus, 2018)

The end-product types are whole insects, insect meal, insect powder, insect protein bars, insect  protein shakes, insect baked product, insect snacks, insect confectionaries, insect beverages, insect oil, and others.

The usage of edible insects is highest in human consumption, followed by animal nutrition and pharmaceutical and cosmetics processes. Figure 1 shows a view of the edible insects on offer in London, the United Kingdom in 2018.

Recently, the world’s first solely insect-based restaurant has been opened by South African chef Mario Barnard in Cape Town's trendy Woodstock suburb.  The restaurant is called “The Insect Experience”, and it serves only insect-based meals.  (The Economic Times, 2019).

Where does India stand in the consumption of edible insects? India contributes around 8% of Asia-Pacific edible insect and insect protein market. The food and fertilizer industry have captured most of the application of edible insect in India by animal feed (Research and Markets, 2018).

Therefore, sooner than later, India too would be looking for growth in alternative protein source in edible insects. Traditionally, the Bodos in Assam, for example, consume insects such as caterpillars, termites, grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles every day. These insects can be considered a staple for the Bodos. Research work on such edible insects is now in progress at Cotton College in Guwahati (Chari, 2014).

Globally, insects are already a part of the diets of around 2 billion people (approximately one-fourth of the global human population). Most of these people do not live in western countries. Most insectivores rely on caterpillars and then move on to consuming other less fleshy insects.

Figure 2: Chef Barnard's Insects Restaurant in Cape Town
Source: (Chef Barnard's Insects Restaurant in Cape Town, 2019)

Global consumption of insects by type are as follows: beetle (31%), caterpillar (18%), bees, wasps and ants (14%), grasshopper, locust and cricket (13%);  cicada, leafhopper and true bug (10%), termite (3%); dragonfly(3%), fly (2%); other orders (5%) (Chari, 2014).

In India, at present, edible insects consumed include the following: beetle, water scavengers, dragonfly, mole cricket, giant water bug, nepa, and grasshopper.  The trend toward reducing the bias against insects as food is promising. Scientists in India have begun promoting edible insects for human consumption, emphasizing on their nutritional value and a new addition to stable diets (Researchgate, n.d.).

Amongst animals, insects are the most successful. They comprise three-fourths of the total living organisms in the animal kingdom. They offer tremendous benefits and multiple applications in the industry (silkworm, honeybee, dye insect, lac insect, and aesthetic insect), as a food source (grasshoppers, crickets, termites, ants, grubs, moths, caterpillars, and pupae), and as potential predators and parasites of destructive pests (Lepidoptera, Orthoptera and Diptera) (Chari, 2014).

This essay concludes that the edible insect market is steadily expanding. Whether the readers like it or not, their neighborhood markets would, sooner than later, have stalls selling edible insects. And why not? Consider such delicacies as prawn, shrimp and crab. Do they not fall within the category of insects? Are shrimps not called the cockroaches of the sea! So it is a matter of time before other insects find their way to the dinner table.

References

Chari, M. (2014, March 12). Quartz. Retrieved from https://qz.com/186677/indias-solution-to-its-coming-famine-get-people-to-eat-insects/

Research and Markets. (2018, June). Retrieved from https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/4650663/india-edible-insect-and-insect-protein-market

Researchgate. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Common-edible-insects-in-India_tbl3_45693221

Reuters Plus. (2018, November 26). Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/brandfeatures/venture-capital/article?id=64359

Skeptical Science. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://skepticalscience.com/animal-agriculture-meat-global-warming.htm

The Economic Times. (2019, September 04). Retrieved from https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/this-cape-town-restaurant-serves-insect-only-dishes/insect-only-dishes-available-here/slideshow/70972767.cms