8  CRUNCHY  FACTS  ABOUT  EDIBLE  INSECTS  YOU  DIDN'T  KNOW...

Promoting insects as a primary future protein alternative source

1. Did you know that 70 % of our fresh water resources are used inagriculture?

To produce a kilo of beef you need 22.000 liters of water. Toproduce a kilo of crickets you only need 1 liter of water!! Insects arehighly sustainable to farm requiring far less water, land and feed thanother animals.

2. Did you know that 2 billion people regularlyeat insects?

That’s 1/3 of the world population! Insects are partof the food diet in many countries of Africa, SouthEast Asia and Latin America.

3. Did you know that insects are already a part of our day to dayfood?

This is called unintentional ingestion. We eat between 450 and900 grams per year. In practice, it is not possible to completelyeliminate insects from the human food chain. Insects are present inmany foods, especially grains. Food laws in many countries do notprohibit insect parts in food, but rather, they limit the quantity.

4. Did you know that in ancient Greece cicadaswere considered a luxury snack and romansfound beetle larvae to be a delicacy?

Actually insects as food fell out of favorcompletely in Europe by the mid- to late-Nineteenth Century as the march of civilizationmade such diets seem “primitive”.

5. Did you know that insects are an excellent source of high qualityprotein (most insects are composed of 80% protein)?

They are low in saturated fats and are an amazing source of minerals,especially iron and zinc, and they are also rich in vitamins and fibre. Actually, insects could be a fabulous alternative to beef for people whosuffer from anaemia (that's 30% of the world population!)

6. Did you know that insects such as mealworms are said to taste like roasted nuts andthat locusts have a taste close to that ofshrimps?

Some people even say that crickets have anaroma of popcorn.

Check out some recipes @The Insect Cookbook:For a sustainable planet by Arnold van Huis.

7. Did you know that there are 1.900 known edible insects on Earth?

Over 1,000 species of insects are known to be eaten in 80% of theworld's nations. According to the Food and Health organisation beetlesare the most consumed insects accounting for 31% of the total.Other popular insects eaten around the world include crickets, cicadas,grasshoppers, ants, various species of caterpillar (such as bambooworms, mopani worms, , scorpions and tarantulas.

8. Did you know that in Uganda crickets are adelicacy?

A kilo of crickets can cost up to 40% more thana kilo of beef.