insects a healthy alternative
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Insects, a healthy alternative

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Insects, a healthy alternative

Beijing - XINHUA

People throughout the world have been regularly eating insects as a part of their diets for centuries, according to a report entitled Edible Insects: Future Prospects for Food and Feed Security by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization in May. The earliest citing of entomophagy, or the consumption of insects as food, can be found in biblical literature but eating insects was, and still is, taboo in many Western societies, the report states. The unconventional nature of entomophagy has meant that farming insects for food and feed has largely been absent from the great agricultural innovations in livestock farming that emerged in past centuries - with a few exceptions, such as bees, silkworms and scale insects. Insects have also gone unnoticed by agricultural research and development agencies worldwide, including the UNFAO. But insect consumption is not a new concept in many parts of the world, the report says. From ants to beetle larvae - eaten by native tribes in Africa and Australia as part of their diets - to the popular, crispy-fried locusts and beetles enjoyed in Thailand, it is estimated that eating insects is practiced regularly by at least 2 billion people worldwide. More than 1,900 insect species have been documented in literature as edible, most of them in tropical countries. The most commonly eaten insect groups are beetles, caterpillars, bees, wasps, ants, grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, cicadas, leaf- and planthoppers, scale insects, termites, dragonflies and flies. Insects are healthy, nutritious alternatives to mainstream staples such as chicken, pork, beef and even fish, the report said. Insects promoted as food emit considerably fewer greenhouse gases than most livestock. Methane, for instance, is produced by only a few insect groups, such as termites and cockroaches. Insect rearing is not necessarily a land-based activity and does not require the clearing of land to expand production. Ammonia emissions associated with raising insects are also far lower than those linked to conventional livestock. Because they are cold-blooded, insects are very efficient at converting feed into protein. They can also be fed on organic waste streams. Insect harvesting and rearing is a low-tech, low-capital investment option that offers entry even to the poorest sections of society, such as women and those without land. Since 2003, the FAO has been working on promoting the eating of insects in many countries worldwide. Gao Xiwu, an entomologist at Chinese Agricultural University who specializes in the economic value of insects, said China, one of the largest insect-consuming countries, is not ready for the mass consumption of insects. "A clear and comprehensive food safety standard is needed to pave the way for promoting insects as food," he said. Attempts to include insects in food management began in 1996 when the China Food and Drug Administration and the National Health and Family Planning Commission approved more than 30 health products containing ants. Since then, no progress has been made.

arabstoday
arabstoday

GMT 11:07 2018 Monday ,22 January

Fuel Your Fitness Habit

GMT 12:26 2018 Tuesday ,16 January

FIT DELIS appoints BrandBru

GMT 15:30 2017 Saturday ,14 October

Health and fitness e-zine seeks anti-ageing face oils

GMT 14:34 2017 Thursday ,05 October

The Healthy Back Bag Company takes PR in-house

GMT 18:50 2017 Wednesday ,27 September

Autumn-proof your skin

GMT 21:17 2017 Tuesday ,08 August

Turkmenistan bans cars for a day to promote bikes
Arab Today, arab today

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

insects a healthy alternative insects a healthy alternative

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

insects a healthy alternative insects a healthy alternative

 



GMT 21:16 2016 Monday ,27 June

Zaki Badr discusses cleaning problem in Giza

GMT 21:46 2017 Saturday ,14 January

Turkey arrests 60 businessmen for alleged Gulen ties

GMT 22:38 2017 Friday ,24 March

Abbas meets with Merkel in Berlin

GMT 09:02 2017 Monday ,27 March

Tunisian Premier Concludes Visit to Sudan

GMT 15:54 2017 Friday ,01 September

Attorney General Directs Prosecutors to inspect Prison

GMT 09:22 2017 Sunday ,31 December

HM King condoles with Afghanistan President

GMT 10:12 2016 Wednesday ,06 April

Strong dollar, mild weather shrink H&M profits

GMT 17:03 2016 Saturday ,24 December

7 police killed in attacks in Afghansitan

GMT 13:51 2017 Friday ,17 March

Israel denies Syria shot down a warplane

GMT 04:08 2017 Thursday ,05 January

Carbon tax can fund clean energy transition

GMT 19:27 2016 Wednesday ,14 September

Alstom to go ahead with plans to shut down Belfort plant
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday