Marcel Dicke at TEDx Amsterdam Why Not Eat Insects

Why not eat insects? Marcel Dicke

Biodiversity: 6 million species www.bugsinthepicture.com

200-2000 kg of insects Of all animal species 80% walks on 6 legs

Insects benefit the economy: 57 billion US$ per annum in USA (2006) Controlling pests Removing dung Controlling pests Removing dung Expenses of US army in Iraq ca 80 billion US$ in 2006 for free Pollinationof crops Food for animals - start of food chains

Silkworm pupae Hangzhou, China, 2008 worldwide ca 1400 insect species eaten

You too! up to 500 gram per year
For instance: allowed limits (USA)
Chocolate: 60 insect components/100 g
Peanut butter: 30 insect parts/100g
Fruit juice in cans/250 ml:
5 fruitfly eggs
1 -2 larvae
Wheat flower: 75 insect parts/50g
Noodles: 225 insect parts/225 g
For instance: Natural dyes: cochenille (=E120) 150-180 metric tonnes / yr tomato soup peanut butter pink cookies surimi sticks

Human population growth 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 2050 Year population (billions)

Increase needed in agricultural production ( www.fao.org )

Animal proteins
From:
Livestock
Fish
Game
Consumption too high in industrialized countries
Production of meat: many problems
1/3  3x increase Europe & N. America: 80 kg meat p.p. /yr India & China: 25 kg meat p.p. /yr

1- Human health
In insects no recombination of viruses harmful to humans
1 point for insects Classical swine fever swine fever virus human influenza virus recombination: new virus 1 2 3

2- Conversion factor
10 kg of feed
1 kg of beef
3 kg of pork
5 kg of chicken
9 kg of locust
2 points for insects

3- Environment
Insect meat production: much less faeces per kg of meat (high conversion factor)
Insect faeces emit:
less ammonia
fewer greenhouse gases
3 points for insects

4- Food value
Proteins :
High level
High digestibility
Essential amino acids
Fat:
Good levels
Many essential fatty acids such as linolenic acid
Important minerals : iron and calcium
Vitamins : A, B1, B2 and D
4 points for insects 1 kg grasshoppers has same amount of calories as 10 x 6 x Excellent quality comparable to beef, pork, chicken

So why not eat insects? 1 2 3 1 2 3 4

We will have to ! if we want to continue consuming animal proteins
livestock production accounts for
70% of all agricultural land (source: FAO)
deforestation to increase agricultural land??
 potential for growth of livestock production extemely limited
agricultural land

… and 80% of world population already eats insects
as delicacy
1400 insect species eaten – so, large variation
many benefits ( 1, 2, 3, 4 )
so, why not in Europe and N-America?
Locust (an insect) shrimp of the land Shrimp ( NOT an insect) Tlat Dong Makkhai market in Laos Arnold van Huis

… and 80% of world population already eats insects
as delicacy
1400 insect species eaten – so, large variation
many benefits ( 1, 2, 3, 4 )
so, why not in Europe and N-America?
Locust (an insect) shrimp of the land Shrimp ( NOT an insect)

Our perception of insects
Getting used to the idea
Not yet available (?)
A matter of mind set ! Professor Arnold van Huis Wageningen University © www.bugsinthe picture.com

Innovative entrepreneurs in NL

Innovative NL minister of Agriculture: puts insects on the menu in her ministry’s restaurant Mrs. Gerda Verburg

So … why not eat insects? Try it yourself most Dutch newspapers reported on 1747 people eating insects in Wageningen 23 Sept 2006 Today!

Snacks made by: enjoy !

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Marcel Dicke at TEDx Amsterdam Why Not Eat Insects

by TEDxAmsterdam on Dec 10, 2009

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Marcel Dicke at TEDx Amsterdam Why Not Eat Insects — Presentation Transcript