Stating that the edible insect trade in the world constitutes a market of 55 million dollars, Assoc. Dr. Davut Şirin said that edible insects could be an alternative to meet the food needs of the increasing population.
Dr. Şirin said, “Today, it is not surprising that this dietary habit, which exists in different societies, is considered as a solution to the food crisis and that edible insect farming is a rapidly growing sector.”
Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, Department of Zoology Faculty Lecturer Assoc. Dr. Davut Ümit Şirin said that insects are the most crowded living group of nature.
Fast-growing industry: Insect farming…
Recalling the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) warning that world food production will need to be increased by 60 percent in order to meet the food needs of the growing population, Dr. Şirin reminded that the worldwide inadequacy of agricultural and animal production, global warming, ocean resources and water scarcity will bring about the necessity of producing alternatives.
Pointing out that one of these alternatives is edible insects, Şirin explained, “Today, approximately two thousand insect species are considered ‘edible’ with their rich protein, vitamin and mineral contents. Seeing insects as a food source is not new. It is not surprising that this dietary habit, which exists in different societies, is considered as a solution to the food crisis and that edible insect farming is a rapidly growing sector. It is an important advantage that insects can be produced in a much lower cost and more practical way than farm animals produced as an animal protein source.”
“Edible insects can be a good export product for societies like ours that would not prefer insects as food due to their cultural characteristics. According to 2017 data, edible insect trade in the world constitutes a market of 55 million dollars,” Dr. Şirin added…
Source: www.gidahatti.com