I.

Introduction
A. Entomophagy

II. Body
A. Nutritional Value
1. Comparable amounts of protein to beef, pork and chicken

2. Insects contain more vitamins and minerals than beef, pork or chicken

B. Environmental Benefits
1. Less greenhouse gasses

2. Easier to produce

a) Requires less feed than cows, pigs and chickens

(1) Edible weight of crickets is double that of cows

(a) 500kg of cattle yields 200kg of beef

(i) Bones, blood, hooves, horns, heart, lungs and

other internal organs are removed

(b) 500kg of cricket yields 400kg of edible meat

b) Smaller amount of land required to produce 1kg of cricket than

1kg of beef, chicken or pork

c) Requires less water than cows, pigs and chickens

C. Entomophagy is not popular

1. Western cultures influence our diet

a) Farming and domestication

(1) Created a supply of meat, milk, wool and leather; insects

aside from bees and silkworms could not provide such things (p 35)

(2) Hunter-gatherer versus farming and domestication

(3) Farming and domestication created stability in food supply

 (4) Considered pests to farming

(5) Colder climates with less insects, increased farming, larger

animals to eat

b) Negative attitudes

(1) Considered pests (mosquitoes, flies, termites)

(2) Transporters of diseases

c) It’s no wonder that when the west spread its influence across the
world through colonization, entomophagy was perceived as savage and
primitive

2. Considered a rare delicacy instead of a staple food source