Eating insects can be good for you and the planet.

Would you be willing - or perhaps even ventured - to taste a crunchy grasshopper as an appetizer? For while it may not seem very appetizing, our fear (not to mention disgust) is based on cultural issues, as for about 2 billion people in the world insects are part of their traditional diet.

In fact, according to The Economist, FAO, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, says eating more insects can be good for the world's population and the planet. According to FAO, the bigger the creature, the more food, water and space it takes to produce the final edible product, not to mention the resulting environmental impact.

Weight Comparisons

To produce just one pound of meat, each head of cattle needs to consume about 8 pounds of food. Also, only 40% of the animal can be consumed. On the other hand, to produce one kilo of cricket “meat”, it only needs 1.7 kilos of food, and 80% of the pet is considered edible. In addition, it is noteworthy that insects provide high levels of protein, micronutrients and minerals.

However, meat has been the main source of protein in rich countries for decades, and consumption in emerging economies - such as Brazil and China, for example - has been steadily increasing, as in some of these countries they can eat meat. It is synonymous with wealth. And of course, as global consumption increases, so does the demand for production and, consequently, the impact on the environment.