Our friend Marwa Shumo has written another very interesting article on edible insects. She says they are the best weapon to combat hunger. Marwa is an environment biotechnologist who obtained her undergraduate training at the University of Nizwa, Oman. She is an expert on black soldier flies and their applications in livestock feed production and future food security. You may have seen another article of hers here “Black Soldier Fly: A Bio Tool for Converting Food Waste into Livestock Feed.”
Insects have short life cycles with high and quick reproduction rates, are rich in protein, minerals and vitamins that are essential for human health…
She also talks about insects as livestock feed…
However, the limited availability and high costs of protein additives such as soybeans, fish oil, fishmeal and seed cakes restrict such businesses from achieving their full potential. It is estimated that feed alone counts for around 60 percent of the costs of poultry, fish and pig production. It is no longer possible to depend on fishmeal, soybeans and cereals as protein sources due to their unsustainability. The use of such sources of protein create an over competition as they can be also used for direct human consumption. In addition, the availability of farmlands suitable for cultivation are rapidly declining. Furthermore, the populations of small pelagic forge fish that is used to produce fish meal and fish oil are declining due to overexploitation. For the reasons mentioned above, insects can play an important role in providing livestock feed with the needed protein and amino acids source.
Click here to read the full article “Edible Bugs-The New Beef?” by Marwa Shumo for WELTHONEHUNGER.
