Going Forward

The last chapter addresses why research on edible insects is not nearly as developed compared to meat, and why this imbalance leads to underrepresentation. In paleoanthropology, there is abundant research on hunting and meat eating while other foods are essentially ignored. This impartiality leads to the portrayal of our ancestors as being primarily carnivorous, which in recent years has been incorporated into the “paleo diet” trend. As a popular weight loss program, the paleo diet emphasizes eating real and natural foods that would have been available to our “cavemen” ancestors. The emphasis on real food is a direct response to our over-industrialized food systems, which produce widely available, inexpensive, unhealthy food options. However, another problem with our modern food system is that it is unsustainable and livestock cultivation is the primary culprit for resource waste and greenhouse gas emissions. We should be looking to reduce our meat intake, not increase it. In this regard, edible insects provide an appealing sustainability option: they are efficient to raise and provide the same nutritional benefits as traditionally raised livestock.