Study finds insect shows promise as a good, sustainable food source:
With global food demands rising at an alarming rate, a study led by IUPUI [( Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis)] scientists has found new evidence that a previously overlooked insect shows promise as alternative protein source: the yellow mealworm.
The research is based upon a new analysis of the genome of the mealworm species Tenebrio molitor led by Christine Picard, associate professor of biology and director in Forensic and Investigative Sciences program at the School of Science at IUPUI.
[...] "Human populations are continuing to increase and the stress on protein production is increasing at an unsustainable rate, not even considering climate change," said Picard, whose lab focuses on the use of insects to address global food demand.
The research, conducted in partnership with Beta Hatch Inc., has found the yellow mealworm—historically a pest—can provide benefit in a wide range of agriculture applications. Not only can it can be used as an alternative source of protein for animals including fish, but its waste is also ideal as organic fertilizer.
[...] "Mealworms, being insects, are a part of the natural diet of many organisms," said Picard. "Fish enjoy mealworms, for example. They could also be really useful in the pet food industry as an alternative protein source. Chickens like insects—and maybe one day humans will, too, because it's an alternative source of protein."
Journal Reference:
T. Eriksson, et al. The yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) genome: a resource for the emerging insects as food and feed industry [open], Journal of Insects as Food and Feed (DOI: 10.3920/jiff2019.0057)
(Score: 2, Offtopic) by looorg on Tuesday September 01 2020, @06:52PM (8 children)
So in this analogy humans are like chickens? Or they hope that one day will be the case? Eating other humans would be a great alternative source of proteins to. That just isn't suggested as commonly, but I seem to recall that similar news to this have been discussed here a few time earlier. In the end it always comes down to the "yuck-factor". People in general are somewhat revolted by the idea of eating bugs and that just isn't going to change anytime soon. No matter how many yummy proteins the little critters contain, simply cause cow-proteins (or insert animal of your choice here) are just so much yummier. That said there are people that do enjoy it and for them it might be great. But that this should somehow become the food of the common man is more or less some kind of pipe dream.
But her name is Picard so perhaps she can just make it so!
(Score: 2) by Hartree on Tuesday September 01 2020, @07:02PM (4 children)
"humans would be a great alternative source of proteins"
Nah, humans just don't cut it as a food animal for the same reason cattle aren't as much bang for the feed buck. Chickens are more efficient at converting a higher percentage of the calories they eat to harvestable meat. Humans are a lot more like pigs or cattle. So, you have to feed us a lot more to fatten us up to be ready for market.
Sorry, no "long pig" bonanza as a way out of our food availability woes. Besides, who'd want to have that argument about who gets dinner and who gets to be dinner with something that can shoot a firearm as well as you can?
(Score: 4, Funny) by Bot on Tuesday September 01 2020, @07:17PM (1 child)
>Nah, humans just don't cut it as a food
THIS IS (kick) SOOYLEEENT!!!
Account abandoned.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 01 2020, @09:30PM
Not even remotely surprised you would use that reference.
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 03 2020, @08:48PM (1 child)
Hogs are actually one of (I want to say THE) best animals in terms of converting feed to meat, and they grow faaast.
(Score: 2) by Hartree on Thursday September 03 2020, @09:40PM
Hogs are certainly better than cattle (by a factor of 2 or so), but less feed efficient than chickens or fish (which exceed hogs by a factor of 2 for chickens and up to 3 or so for fish).
(Score: 2) by acid andy on Tuesday September 01 2020, @08:07PM (2 children)
I'm inclined to suspect that that yuck-factor is mainly cultural, so nurture rather than nature. I say this because since turning vegetarian and then vegan, I now have a huge yuck-factor at the thought of eating animal organs. As a child it didn't bother me hugely.
Just because it's cultural and can change though, doesn't mean it will for the majority of the population. I suspect (and hope) that veganism will continue to expand faster than this.
If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by DannyB on Tuesday September 01 2020, @09:09PM (1 child)
That cultural difference in the acceptability of eating bugs is probably related to how affluent you are, or even merely satisfied with enough food, versus a culture of people who regularly go hungry.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2020, @12:25PM
It's probably one of those U shaped curves where it goes way down as you approach middle class and then goes up again as these things become optional delicacies. It's funny how "delicacy" effectively means "nasty stuff that you wouldn't normally want to eat, but you're eating it now because you have so much money that you can prove the point by eating things that nobody in their right mind would want to eat."