Don’t be afraid of insects, eat them!
ㆍSingapore-based ‘Nutrition Technologies’ processes black soldier flies to feed animals and make bio-oil.
ㆍInsects can be a sustainable food source to combat food loss and global warming.
ㆍOvercome your fear of insects with the help of the latest technology.
Do you feel disgusted by insects?
Let me change your perspective completely. Imagine a future where Earth is completely depleted of resources. In this scenario, it’s impossible to raise animals for meat since there won’t be enough crops to feed them. The lack of land, water, and energy makes it difficult to produce animal feed in the traditional way. However, there is a solution – insects. There are around 1,900 species of edible insects that are a great source of protein and can be used as animal feed. If you still don’t feel comfortable eating insects, they can be ground up and processed into supplements for animal feed and fertilizer. Nutrition Technologies has been experimenting with using black soldier fly larvae for this purpose. They believe that by focusing on the benefits of insects, rather than people’s disgust towards them, we can solve problems and create a sustainable future.
How do flies become a source of food for humans?
One innovative approach to this question is the use of a unique combination of bacteria and black soldier fly larvae by a company called Nutrition Technologies. They have a two-hectare plant in Malaysia where they farm black soldier flies, which thrive in hot and humid climates. In a bid to expand their operations, they plan to build several similarly sized facilities across Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, in the next five years. Let’s take a closer look at the giant fly factory and see how they are revolutionizing the use of flies in food production.
The production process of black soldier flies begins with breeding. The eggs of the flies are hatched and raised into larvae. These larvae are placed in large plastic trays to feed on fermented agricultural waste, such as palm oil fibers or coffee grounds. The waste is fermented with bacteria to create a nutritious feed for the larvae, which consume it until they are fully grown. The process can take up to 10 days, during which time the larvae can grow up to 400 times their original weight. Once fully grown, the larvae are either ground into a powder or pressed into an oil for animal feed. The remains of the larvae can be mixed with microbial inoculants to create a microbial fertilizer. Nutrition Technologies aims to produce a sustainable feed industry staple that can compete with widely used fishmeal and soybeans and is compliant with European guidelines and GMP standards.
Low Carbon, High Protein
Don’t forget the two important laws of food security. Eventually, humans will choose insects as the food of the future. For instance, the black soldier fly has 45% crude protein, 32% crude fat, 6.2% ash, and 8.4% crude fiber. In addition to being highly nutritious, they are also rich in essential amino acids like arginine, methionine, and lysine, which makes them easily digestible. Furthermore, insects have a small carbon footprint since they are made from food waste.
So, If we can overcome our aversion to insects, we can produce protein and fat-rich food sources without harming the environment. In the near future, we might see insect-based food products such as protein bars, cookies, pasta, and even steaks becoming more common. If you’re not quite comfortable with the idea of eating insects, there are alternative options available. You can use a VR headset like Apple’s Vision Pro or wearable glasses with an AR camera to make insects appear like delicious meat. Alternatively, you can even 3D print them into the shape of your desired food product. Ultimately, the goal is to experience the nutrients and flavor of the insect, without necessarily having to see it in its natural form.
Are you still feeling disgusted by insects?
