Twelfth International Conference on Food Studies

Abstract

It is well known that humankind is heading towards a global protein crisis. An increase in the need for greenhouse gas-producing livestock and forest-destroying soy has already led to a worldwide imbalance between supply and demand. The practice of edible insect farming is currently attracting attention as one solution to this challenge. In some parts of the world insects have a long history of human consumption. Nutritious, protein-rich and producible without destroying natural resources, insects have excellent potential for becoming a building block of sustainable food industries. They also provide a creative way of dealing with the issue of food loss, as environmentally-minded insect farmers create micro stock feed out of products which would otherwise be discarded. In my paper I focus on the ecological insect farming practices taking place in Hiroshima, Japan, where one successful farm is using high-quality expired almonds as feed for their edible crickets. This has attracted the attention of national universities and investors alike, who are eager to support such commendable efforts. Among the production methods which make this farm unique are their commitment to traceability, a strictly almond-fed diet which positively affects nutrient levels, a low environmental footprint, and a campaign to employ and promote locally. While insect consumption is still a hard-sell in many parts of the world, I believe it is a viable step towards solving the imminent protein crisis.

Presenters

Aiko Tanaka
Founder, Japan Food Studies College, Japan Food Studies Research Institute (FSRI), Food Activist Organization Japan, Planetary Food Education Network, Japan