Food production will need to double by 2050

The global food system is under pressure – not only because there will be more mouths to feed, but also because agricultural yields are challenged due to global warming.

By 2050 we are projected to have close to 10 billion people on this planet and our food production will need to double as a result 1

Innovative strategies are needed to help combat hunger, which already affects more than 1 billion people in the world 1

Globally, animal-based food production is responsible for 30 % of GHGEs, 70 % of water use, and it occupies 77 % of the land used for agriculture, while only contributing 37 % of the global protein production 2 .

As insects need far less land and resources to provide the same amount of protein, they are a highly trusted solution for future food.

Read on and understand how the consumption of insects, or entomophagy, can contribute positively to the environment and to health and livelihoods.

1: UN, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2023)

2: UN, Food & Agriculture Organization – FAO (2022)

Are there risks to eating crickets?

Edible crickets are among the top 5 most eaten insect species around the world.

GAP-certified cricket farms

Consumption of crickets is generally safe. However, eating crickets can cause allergies to those persons sensitive to insect chitins.

Crickets are what they eat. This means that the nutritional composition is determined by the feed they are given. Farm rearing of crickets must therefore be done with appropriate and safe substrates to guarantee the health and safety of consumers. The method of rearing and farming of crickets is crucial to pursuing the highest standards of food safety.

Local authorities all over the world are starting to certify cricket farms in accordance with good agricultural practices to help ensure improved safety measures from hatching to storage and delivery of the harvested crickets.

Food safety professionals are conducting further studies on edible insect consumption to help quell doubts about the safety of this novel food.

Consumer acceptance

Consumers are becoming increasingly keen on the idea of eating insects, but there are still hurdles to overcome - especially in regions of the world with no history of eating insects.

A complexity of emotional factors, such as disgust and neophobia, as well as tastes, textures, and contexts, are found to have a major influence on the acceptability of edible insects. 3

Product development to produce delicious and healthy foods containing cricket protein and the adoption of strategies to increase acceptance are therefore required.

Powdered cricket protein with little taste integrates easily into many food and beverage formulations and tend to be more widely accepted than whole crickets.

There are strong signs of acceptance from the sports nutrition industry, as athletes are constantly seeking new efficient supplements that can help enhance their performance and recovery.