Edible insect industry group set up to support Southeast Asia

DATE: 03/01/2016
RETRIEVED: 05/01/2016
SOURCE: FOODNAVIGATOR ASIA


In the last few years, dozens of edible insect start-ups have popped up in western countries to supply a new wave of interest in bugs as food. This market is now in need of regulation, promotion and support.

This this is the case might might be one reason for the growing number of industry associations are being formed—including one I recently co-founded with some other companies in the region.

The first representative body for manufacturers of insects for food was created by Robert Nathan Allen in 2013 as Little Herds in America. Then came the North America Edible Insect Coalition (NAEIC), formed by start-ups like Exo, Entomo Farms and Chapul.

In Europe, IPIFF, strategically located in Brussels, represents small- and medium-sized companies from the edible insect market, as well as from the feed sector. Lobbying the EU parliament on insects is obviously one of their priorities.

There is also BiiF in Belgium, FFPIDI in France and Switzerland’s GRIMIAM, which successfully campaigned to have the Swiss parliament approve a law on edible insects, which passed in December.

READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE @

http://www.foodnavigator-asia.com/Formulation/Edible-insect-industry-group-set-up-to-support-Southeast-Asia

Chefs in Europe experiment with insects

DATE: 25/12/2016
SOURCE: PBS
VIA: TWITTER


AMY GUTTMAN, PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND: At this food truck in Brussels, there are healthy portions of protein in their kabobs, burgers, and nachos, but one ingredient may surprise you: crickets.

Yes, these are skewers of roasted crickets with tomatoes.

Increasingly, in Europe, adventurous eaters, entrepreneurs, and scientists are touting insects like crickets, mealworms and grasshoppers as a new “super” food…for humans…because some insects provide more protein than meat, plus high levels of iron, essential amino and Omega-3 fatty acids.

READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE @

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/chefs-europe-experiment-insects/

Are Bugs More Nutritious Than Meat?

DATE: 14/12/2016
AUTHOR:  Ravindra Krishnamurthy
SOURCE: PERMACULTURENEWS

A new research study shows that eating edible insects could provide as much or even more iron and other micro-nutrients as consuming beef.

A large percentage of the world’s population consumes meat. Unfortunately, meat production is taxing the planet, with its demand for substantially large amount of water and energy, in addition to contributing to environmental pollution. The look-out for an effective alternative is on and many sustainability researchers are buzzing with the idea of eating bugs.

The idea of eating edible bugs may seem disgusting for many Westerners, but a large proportion of the world’s population have been consuming them on a daily basis since time immemorial.

According to a United Nations report titled, “Edible insects: Future prospects for food and feed security in 2013”, 1900 species of insects are consumed by 2 billion people globally, especially in South and East Asia, Africa, and South and Central America. Out of these 1900 species, beetles (31%), caterpillars (18 %) and Hymenoptera i.e. the bees, wasps and ants (14 %) make-up for most part of insects consumption.

Recent studies hint that, entomophagy could be healthier than meat consumption from other animals, not only for human health, but also for the planet. An insect farm is far cheaper than maintaining a cattle ranch or a poultry farm and is perceived as a way to combat greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming. With lesser ethical considerations, even animal-rights activists will be less grumpy about insect farms.



READ THE REST @ http://permaculturenews.org/2016/12/14/bugs-nutritious-meat/