Monday, January 16, 2006

MicroLivestock: Are you game for it?

The thought of eating insects may be very unsettling to most people in this day and age. However, in many cultures insects and other arthropods have been eaten as a staple and/or as a delicacy.Over 1200 species of insects are used as food by people throughout the world.An interesting example of mass harvesting of edible insects is the moth feasts that occurred in the Bogong mountains of New South Wales. Insects are an inexpensive substitute for meat in many developing countries.Grasshoppers in Mexico, termites, palm grubs and ants in Colombo, June beetles, grasshoppers, ants, mole crickets, water beetles, katydids, locusts and dragonfly larvae.in Phillipines, giant waterbug in Asia, Sago grubs, in Papua New Guinea form a regular constituent of their Cuisine.
A Food for Thought or an insect for food:Now That is the Question?
Can Insects replace our choice of Platter in leaning future, answer may lies in yes seeing few reasons and statistics.Most insects are cheap, tasty (oh Really!)and a good natural protein source requiring less land and feed than raising cows or pigs. Many insects are far cleaner(I agree) than other creatures. For example, grasshoppers and crickets eat fresh, clean, green plants whereas crabs, lobsters and catfish eat any kind of foul, decomposing material as a scavenger (bottom water feeder). By weight, termites, grasshoppers, caterpillars, weevils, house flies and spiders are better sources of protein than beef, chicken, pork or lamb according to the Entomological Society of America. (Quite noticeable, in view of ban on beef selling and pork in different communities and countries owing to religious sentiments .Insects are low in cholesterol and low in fats a s veterinary bills.Insects are easy to raise. There is no manure forking. No hay bale lifting. No veterinary bills.Most people do not mind butchering insects. The butchery of insects is very simple compared with that of cattle or poultry, and nowhere near as gory.(Till now, I have not heard of any animal activists inIdia raising a protest against this, the likes of Amla, where are u? Raising insects is environmentally friendly. They require minimal space per pound of protein produced, have a better feed to meat ratio than any other animal you can raise, and are very low on the food chain.An issue of the Food Insects Newsletter reports that 80 percent of the world's population eats insects intentionally and 100 percent eat them unintentionally(.Oh My God!What Happens to my vegetarianism then?)
These men's multi legged companion can sure provide a solution to man's hunger .
Any ways , even after reading all this information , are you game for it?
[Insects]

Posted by Neelima Arora :: 3:14 AM :: 0 Comments:

Post a Comment

---------------------------------------