U.N. Conference Promotes Insect-Eating For Everyone
By Mar Celo on Feb 25, 2008 in US News | | |
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization is advising people to eat crickets, caterpillars during droughts and other emergencies.Three dozen scientists from 15 countries gathered in this northern Thailand city, home to several dozen restaurants serving insects and other bugs.A Japanese scientist proposed bug farms on spacecraft to feed astronauts, noting that it would be more practical than raising cows or pigs. Australian, Dutch and American researchers said more restaurants are serving the critters in their countries.The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization estimates 1,400 species of insects and worms are eaten in almost 90 countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Patrick Durst, a Bangkok-based senior forestry officer at the FAO said:
“In certain places with certain cultures with a certain level of acceptance, then insects can very well be seen as part of the solution”
The infrastructure to raise, transport and market bugs is almost nonexistent in most countries.
