Edible insects: the future of nutrition?

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In den letzten Jahren hat das Interesse an essbaren Insekten enorm zugenommen. Während das Konzept für viele Menschen ungewöhnlich erscheint und einige sogar abschreckt, könnten Insekten eine wichtige Rolle in der Zukunft der Ernährung spielen. In diesem Artikel werden wir uns genauer mit essbaren Insekten befassen und ihre potenziellen Vorteile und Herausforderungen diskutieren. Die globale Nahrungsproblematik Bevor wir auf die spezifische Rolle von essbaren Insekten eingehen, sollten wir uns zunächst mit der globalen Nahrungsproblematik befassen. Die Weltbevölkerung wächst stetig und wird laut Schätzungen bis 2050 die 10-Milliarden-Marke überschreiten. Dies stellt eine massive Herausforderung für die Nahrungsproduktion dar. Um dieses Bevölkerungswachstum …
In the past few years, interest in edible insects has increased enormously. While the concept seems unusual for many people and some even deteriorates, insects could play an important role in the future of nutrition. In this article, we will deal more precisely with edible insects and discuss your potential advantages and challenges. The global food problem before we respond to the specific role of edible insects should first deal with the global food problems. The world population is growing steadily and, according to estimates, will exceed the 10 billion mark by 2050. This is a massive challenge for food production. To this population growth ... (Symbolbild/natur.wiki)

In recent years, interest in edible insects has increased enormously. While the concept seems unusual for many people and some even deteriorates, insects could play an important role in the future of nutrition. In this article we will deal more precisely with edible insects and discuss your potential advantages and challenges.

the global food problem

Before we respond to the specific role of edible insects, we should first deal with the global food problem. The world population is growing steadily and, according to estimates, will exceed the 10 billion mark by 2050. This represents a massive challenge for food production. In order to cope with this population growth, new sustainable solutions are required.

Why should we eat insects?

eating insects is not new. In some parts of the world, they are already an integral part of nutrition and have been consumed for centuries. Insects are rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. They also contain fiber and are usually low in fat. In addition, insects produce less greenhouse gases and consume fewer water than traditional farm animals. Compared to beef, which requires about 15,000 liters of water per kilogram, insects only need a fraction of this amount.

The variety of edible insects

There are more than 2,000 edible insect species in the world. Some of the best known are grilling, grasshoppers, mealworms, silk cockpit and hiking grasshoppers. Every kind has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of taste, nutrient content and breeding conditions. It is believed that edible insects can represent a sustainable protein source that can be easily grown and bred.

insect breeding and processing

The breeding of insects for human consumption takes place in special farms. These farms are designed in such a way that they offer optimal living conditions for insects to promote their reproduction and fast growth. Insect powder and flour are the most frequently used shapes of edible insects. These products can be used in a variety of food products such as protein bars, pasta, snacks and even burger alternatives.

Health advantages of edible insects

edible insects have many health benefits. Due to their high protein content and their lower amount of fat, they can be a good alternative to protein -rich foods such as meat or fish. In addition, some insect species contain important minerals such as iron, zinc and magnesium. Edible insects are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids that are important for the health of the heart and brain.

challenges and obstacles

Despite the many potential advantages of edible insects, there are also some challenges and obstacles that have to be overcome before they can become a widespread nutritional alternative. One of the greatest challenges is to overcome the Stigma associated with the consumption of insects. Many people find the thoughts of eating insects, still repulsive.

In addition, there are legal hurdles to overcome, since insects in most countries are not approved as food. Special regulations and guidelines must be developed to ensure the safety and quality of edible insects. In addition, the costs for the rearing of insects are still relatively high. However, scaling production could lead to a cost reduction.

FAZIT

edible insects could be a promising solution for future nutritional problems. They are rich in nutrients, environmentally friendly and easy to breed. Despite some challenges, there are already many companies and organizations that specialize in insect breeding and try to establish edible insects as a sustainable source of protein. It remains to be seen whether edible insects will actually become the future of nutrition, but their potential is very promising.

sources:
- World Economic Forum. (2020). Edible Insects: The Future of Food? Accessed by https://www.weforum.org/ataga/2019/edible-insects-the-future-of-food/
- Food and agriculture organization of the united nations. (2013). Edible Insects - Future Prospects for Food and Feed Security. Called up by http://www.fao.org/3/i3253e/i3253e.pdf

These sources provide a comprehensive overview of the topic and contain further information about the advantages of edible insects.