With the high environmental cost of meat production and the increasing demand for protein rich food, alternative sources of protein were one of the questions being pondered at the IFT15: Where Science Feeds Innovation hosted by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) in Chicago.
In one presentation, the founder of “All Things Bugs LLC” spoke about the use of insects as a protein source. His company will produced approx. 25,000 pounds (11,340 kg) of cricket powder this year for use an alternative source of protein.
Insects require a lot less land to produce than cattle, do not emit greenhouse gases and can breed rapidly. We have blogged about the use of insects as a protein source a number of times, whether it be directly in our food or used as a protein source for cattle, it seems that as long as we can get over the yuck factor there are many benefits to be had.