Why insects could be the key to food security?

Experts at Wageningen University believe that adding insects to the diet can help move the world towards a more sustainable future.

The United Nations predicts that the global population will grow to 9.7 billion by 2050 and may peak at almost 11 billion around 2100, which means that agricultural production is under enormous pressure to provide enough food for everyone. Meat consumption has increased dramatically over the years and in the near future there may not be enough to keep up. That's when insects become the perfect substitute.

Researcher Marcel Dicke at Wageningen University in the Netherlands has spent more than 20 years proving to the world that insects are a reliable food source. "I've eaten ants in Colombia, dragonflies in China and many other insects like locusts and termites. Some species have a nutritional content similar to, if not higher, than beef. and pork," said Dicke.

Some insects are as nutritious as beef and pork.

In a paper published in the journal Trends in Plant Science on March 2, Dicke and colleagues focused on the benefits of using food waste as insect feed, then using the waste in insect production to promote sustainable agriculture. This approach can enhance plant growth, pollination and recovery.

"Research revolves around finding solutions to the world's problems and seeing how insects can contribute to that. One of the most obvious benefits is that insects can become a sustainable source of protein. sustainably fed to humans, an alternative to current beef or pork. Residues unsuitable for human consumption can be utilized to feed insects. For example, grains left over from processing brewing can be consumed by insects, which eventually become food for humans," says Dicke.

Insect farming is also more efficient, especially when compared to traditional livestock. While it takes about 25 kilograms of grass to produce one kilogram of beef, that same amount of grass can produce 10 times as much edible insect protein. This is because the insect's conversion rate is higher and up to 90% of the insect's body mass is edible, as opposed to just 40% in cows.

According to the article, insects are fed with waste from farming or food production, which then becomes food for humans. This circle closes with the use of waste from insect production to promote plant growth.

Waste from insect production comes in two main forms: exuviae (the exoskeleton left over by insects after molting), and frass (insect droppings and leftovers). When added to the soil, these substances promote both plant growth and health. Insect manure is rich in nitrogen, a nutrient important for plant growth but scarce in most soils; Therefore, it is often added in synthetic fertilizers.

The team added insect molts to the soil and found it promoted the growth of beneficial plant microorganisms. This not only increases resilience against pests and diseases, but also promotes crop pollination. Additional pollination comes with a higher seed yield.

"This new application puts insects at the heart of our food production system. Insects are often seen as crop pests these days, but they could be the key to ensuring security. When it comes to food production, there's a surplus that we can benefit from," added Dicke.