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Advantages
Crickets represent lots of advantages in different points :
Economics:
Insects have a huge economical potential. They are very simple to produce.
They grow very rapidly and reproduce themselves in large numbers; and they don’t need a lot of space, a lot of food and a lot of water. So it’s very economical and cost-effective for the producer.
Also the market of eatable insects experiences has been booming for the last 3 years. This market is going to mushroom in the future, so we think that it could be a good investment.
Social:
There are also more than 1,900 eatable insects species eaten in the world and they are mainly located in poor or less developed world regions.
If the insects consumption increases, it would be a relief for those regions. Also the insects’ prices would decrease a lot, so it would be very good for people who have a low income.
Environmental:
The crickets’ production doesn’t need a lot of space. It consumes less water and food than a beef production.
For example, for a production of 1 kg of proteins, the beef production needs more than 10 hectares of land and 22,000 L/kg of water, while the insects production needs less than 1 hectare of land and less than 10L/kg of water. They also need 12 times less food.
It also rejects less greenhouse gases than beef production, it’s about 99% less!
Lastly, it’s very good against the waste: 80% of the insect is eatable contrary to the chicken which is about 55% or the pork and beef which is about 40%.
Nutritional:
The protein’s rate in insects is extremely high. For a cricket, it is around 70%, in other words it is 3 times more than beef. 5 crickets correspond to a beefsteak!
Also for 100 g of dry matter, chicken contains only 25 g of proteins compared to cricket which contains 63 g of it.
This attractive feature can be very important for athlets who are in search of a high protein’s intake, or for all the population to substitute meat by insects.
Also insects contain all the amino acids that we need, and contain same quantities of vitamins B1, B2 and B12 as beef, and of omega 3 and 6 as fish.
The utility of those vitamins and omega (or fatty acids) :
The vitamin B1:
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contributes to degradation of carbohydrates
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influences cardiac function and nerves
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is essential to cellular metabolism and to processing of foods in energy
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influences hormonal production.
The vitamin B2:
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participates in protids, lipids and glucids metabolism
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acts on tissues and organs
The vitamin B12:
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participates to red blood cells formation
The omega 3:
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Beneficial influence on cell membrane quality as well as on anti-inflammatory and immune reactions
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Fight high blood pressure
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Prevent cardiovascular diseases, mental disorders related to ageing process, strokes as well as some cancers
The omega 6:
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Protect cardiovascular system
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boost immune defenses
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very involved in the functioning of nervous system and in the wound-healing process
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reduce the degree of allergic reactions.
Iron:
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Insects contain also a lot of essential minerals like iron. Crickets contain twice more of it than spinach.
Cooking
Insects can be cooked in a lot of ways:
In powder:
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crickets’ flour to cook cake, bread... or food for animals
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also this presentation can remove some psychological barriers.
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Example of company: Thinksect
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Grilled:
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To eat them such as they are or with some spicy preparation around for example
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Most of the time they are eaten at the aperitif. Example of company: Jimini’s
Salty or sweety:
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pizza, pasta, crikets lolipops, chocolates, …
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There are many restaurants which cook insects in Europe like in France at All Pizza where they made pizza with insects inside. This restaurant was famous especially for its originality.
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Example of companies: Micronutris (pasta), Bush Grub (lolipops)
Furthermore the risk of zoonotic disease transmission is minimal, contrary to animal meat.
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