How cricket farms are the key to a sustainable future
In our first blog on introducing sustainable food, we mentioned how animals raised as livestock creates greenhouse gases comparable to cars and trucks. As such, it’s generally better to avoid eating too much meat or dairy. By not buying as many animal-based products, you’re lowering the demand for them, meaning less livestock and a healthier environment.
But what if we told you there was another option beyond fruit and vegetables?
Cricket farming has gained more and more traction as the years pass by. To many, it might sound unsettling, maybe even downright horrifying, but we encourage you to at least think about it.
In this blog, we’re going to explore the world of crickets and edible insects, and why you should be eating them.
The issue
Beyond the previously-mentioned greenhouse gas issue, there are a couple more reasons as to why livestock farming isn’t sustainable.
Livestock farming takes up a massive amount of space. According to cricket seller Primal Future, 70% of arable land goes to meat production. Insect farming offers a simple solution. Other than being so small (meaning they’ll generally take up more space), insect farming can go vertical, reducing the amount of space taken up.
Insect farming also reduces the amount of feed and water required. In the modern world, we need to use as few resources as possible to keep things sustainable. Crickets require less than one litre of water to produce 1kg of protein, and almost six times fewer grams of feed when compared to cows.
By moving a portion of our farming into insects, we’re making way for a better and more sustainable future.
Why would you eat them?
Imagine you were presented with two plates: one has a steak cooked however you like or a salad. The other has a number of crickets. Which one would you eat? No doubt the steak or salad.
As it turns out, insects are chock-full of protein as well as all 9 essential amino acids. On top of that, they can actually be quite tasty. There’s a reason that so many animals eat them!
Or, if you’re worried you won’t be able to stomach a full cricket or insect, there are other ways to get your fill. Many sellers offer their crickets in the form of a powder that can be cooked or baked into different dishes. Primal Future even offers cricket-based corn chips in three different “normal” flavours: aged cheddar, jalapeno and lime, and sea salt.
If you’re a UK shopper, you might want to take a look at Instar Farming, which offer affordable deals on cricket powder as well as whole dried crickets for the adventurous.
If you found this article on sustainable food interesting, check out our blog detailing the issues of overfishing.
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