Insects

Many people in Western countries are often disgusted at the thought of eating or watching someone each an insect. This reaction is rooted in an irrational fear, however, because insects are a great snack high in protein, fat, and other micronutrients [5]. They are a fantastic protein alternative because 100% of their entity can be consumed compared to 40% of livestock [6]. Additionally, insects have high rates of reproduction and require less energy to produce than livestock [7].

Insects are also a great meat alternative because they can be produced from organic wastes. This revelation led to the understanding that waste can replace 8.1% of land currently used for animal production [8]. Furthermore, a wide variety of feeds can be used for insects such as crickets and meal-worm larvae. Scientists have concluded, however, that more research is needed to understand how to produce insects on a global scale.

The main obstacle in the adoption of insects as a primary source of protein is consumer acceptance. Many people living in Western countries have not grown up with insects part of their daily diet. This creates an issue when trying to market insects as on a global scale. For this reason, Alexander emphasizes that to achieve greatest consumer acceptance, insects should be sold in a powder form. That being said, there are legal barriers when manipulating insects. The European Union has regulations that prevent the sale of processed insects; they must be sold whole [9].Until consumer perceptions and country policies change, insects will remain a novel source of protein for many people.