United Nations Eyes Insects to Help Stamp Out World Hunger

This month's highly-anticipated invasion of the East Coast by billions of red-eyed cicadas has earned more than a few nods from culinary journalists, wanting to share the joys of cicada-based cuisine with the general public --- or, at least, prompt a few gut reactions of utter disgust (reporters like doing that from time to time).

But, now a new report from by the United Nations asserts the ultimate answer to world hunger and also saving the environment really may be found underneath your feet, if not the nearest rock.

Issued by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, "Edible Insects - Future Prospects for Food and Feed Security" argues that feasting on more insects could boost global nutrition levels and help preserve the planet's natural ecosystem.

The report also notes that while 2 billion people worldwide already incorporate insects in their diets, many other critters like wasps and beetles are "underutilized" as food for people and livestock --- which may bode well for anyone considering a career diversion into insect farming, which the study calls "one of the many ways to address food and feed security."

Insects, the report notes, "are everywhere and they reproduce quickly and they have high growth and feed conversion rates and a low environmental footprint."

Insects are "extremely efficient" in converting feed into edible meat. Crickets, for example, need 12 times less feed than cattle to produce the same amount of protein, the report explains.

As well, most insects are likely to produce fewer environmentally harmful greenhouse gases than other creatures. Ammonia emissions associated with insect-rearing are far lower than those linked to conventional livestock such as pigs, says the report.

Then again, one of the biggest barriers to the worldwide adopting of a more bug-centric cuisine is the significant level of "consumer disgust" felt by those in many Western countries about consuming creeping and crawling things.

That's why the report suggests the food industry support the cause of "raising the status of insects" by including them in new recipes and adding them to restaurant menus.

The assessment says public opinion will likely begin shifting when people realize how many cultures in the world prize their bug dishes.

In southern Africa, for instance, caterpillars are seen as luxuries and command high prices.

Another way to earn greater respect for insect-based menus is to improve worldwide regulations and production standards, as the majority of edible insects today are gathered in forests and prepared for niche markets, the report states.

"The use of insects on a large scale as a feed ingredient is technically feasible," the report said, "and established companies in various parts of the world are already leading the way."