3 reasons why edible insects should have a place on the menu
Channel: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Date: 2023-02-17

As the world’s population continues to grow 
we need to find innovative and sustainable ways to produce
more highly nutritious food and animal feed
without putting more pressure on our limited natural resources.
Edible insects are an underutilized resource 
that can help meet our growing demands for nutritious food 
and animal feed while caring for our planet.
Here are 3 reasons why edible insects should have a place on the menu.
1. They are nutritious
They offer energy, fat, proteins and fibres
and can be good sources of micronutrients such as zinc, calcium and iron.
2. They are sustainable
Insect-rearing emits considerably fewer greenhouse gases 
than most other animal protein sources 
and requires substantially less water, land and feed than other livestock. 
While fed to animals

edible insects could turn low-value materials they are fed with 
into high-quality animal source food.
3. They offer economic opportunities
With adequate training, insect rearing can provide
inclusive livelihood opportunities to those
with minimal access to land, both in rural and urban areas.
Over 1 900 species of edible insects are consumed throughout the world
and they are already a nutrient-rich part of many national diets.
However, their economic and nutritional potential is still underutilized.

FAO is supporting countries in their efforts
to develop insect-based value chains 
and providing guidance for ensuring food and feed safety  
when rearing and consuming edible insects as food and feed.

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