Insects as a potentially valuable source of animal feed and food for people.

 

Food ingredients made from insects could be coming to a menu near you.

This is the focus of research being carried out at Aberystwyth University.

Scientists at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) are looking at insects as a potentially valuable source of animal feed and food for people.

The work is part of ValuSect — which stands for valuable insects — an international project aiming to improve the sustainable production and processing of insect-based products.

Insects are a common feature of people’s everyday diets in countries including Mexico, China and Ghana.

They offer a more environmentally-friendly source of protein than many other foods and could help feed the world’s growing population.

Dr Tiffany Lau and some of the insects
Insects offer a more environmentally-friendly source of  sustainable protein than many other foods and could help feed the world’s growing population.

(Scientists)- Insect ingredients could form part of a range of foods. They could be made into protein shakes, protein smoothies,  insect burgers etc.,  could be an important source of sustainable protein.

ValuSect, a consortium of partners coordinated by Thomas More University in Belgium, has been studying crickets, grasshoppers and yellow mealworms as human food.

A new grant will see the black soldier fly added to the research menu and extend the work to look at using insect products in animal feed.

Findings will be shared with food and agriculture businesses across northern Europe.

Research indicates that approximately 30% of EU consumers are willing to eat insect-based food.

ValuSect aims to increase this number by improving the quality of insect production and processing, carrying out consumer tests, and reducing its environmental impact.

Some insect-based ingredients are already available .

«In another 20 years it will be commonplace to go and find your insects on the a la carte menu.»

Source: BBC News, 19/11/2021

Last Updated on 19.11.2021 by iskova

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