Of the 20 amino acids we need to stay healthy, our bodies can produce 11. Amino acids contain two functional groups -an amino group (-NH 2) and a carboxyl group (-COOH)-and a unique side group. Our bodies make proteins from organic compounds called amino acids. They spur important reactions in the body, provide structure, and ferry other molecules to their destinations. But they play critical roles virtually everywhere in our bodies, from our skin to our brains. Proteins are probably best known for their role in building muscle. And, the best part-according to proponents-they’re tasty!
So, insects could be well-positioned to help feed the world, while having a smaller impact on the planet. When compared to other animal protein sources, van Huis says, farmed insects “emit less greenhouse gases, they need less land, and they need less water.” “There are huge environmental benefits,” says Arnold van Huis, a tropical entomologist at Wageningen University in the Netherlands and the first author on the FAO’s seminal 2013 report on edible insects. Insect farming could be a more sustainable solution to help meet the world’s growing nutritional needs. Plant-based foods, such as nuts, legumes, grains, and vegetables, also contain protein and have a much lower environmental footprint than meat, but they might not satisfy everyone’s tastes.
So, what’s all the buzz about? The gist of it is this: Raising land animals that give us much of our protein contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change. Market researchers expect the global edible bug market to grow nearly 30% over the next five years, reaching $3 billion by 2027. His enthusiasm is based on an idea that has the attention of several researchers, conservationists, and international agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. He says that eating bugs, or entomophagy, might just be the alternative to beef, pork, chicken, and seafood that we need to help protect the environment. He said as much in early 2021 during a virtual appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” The Iron Man actor is such a big fan that the investment company he started pledged more than $220 million in funding for a French mealworm product company called Ynsect.īut Downey isn’t in it for the money.
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