Economy Thailand Sets Sights on Growing Sustainable Protein Market

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

Thailand is gearing up to seize a significant share of the burgeoning global edible insect market, with projections indicating a growth rate of 25.1% annually from 2025 to 2030. As consumers worldwide increasingly turn to sustainable protein alternatives, Thailand's established prowess in insect farming positions it as a key player.

 

Currently the world's sixth-largest insect exporter, Thailand benefits from both a strong tradition of insect agriculture and a growing domestic acceptance of insects as food. This provides a robust foundation for further expansion in the industry, which is being driven by the need for more eco-friendly protein sources amid concerns about the environmental impact of traditional livestock farming.

 

To put the benefits into perspective, conventional livestock farming accounts for about 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In stark contrast, insect farming boasts a significantly smaller environmental footprint. For instance, producing one kilogram of insect protein results in only one kilogram of CO₂ emissions—27 to 40 times less than that from common livestock. Additionally, insect farming demands 5-13 times less water and feed compared to cattle, pigs, and chickens, and it can be conducted in much smaller spaces with enhanced efficiency.

 

The Kasikorn Research Center highlights Thailand's competitive edge in this sector, as the country currently produces over 7,000 tonnes of what it terms 'economic insects' annually. Rising global temperatures, which threaten traditional livestock yields, could actually benefit insect farming, as many species thrive in warmer conditions, potentially speeding up production cycles.

 

For Thai farmers, this focus on insects presents a promising financial opportunity. The initial investment required to start a basic cricket farm is estimated at 45,000 to 75,000 baht. Fresh insect sales can yield profits ranging from 9,600 to 37,000 baht annually. If farmers process insects into flour, profits could soar to 260,000 baht per year. Furthermore, the land-use efficiency of raising insects could generate a higher income—up to 9,300 baht per square metre, which significantly outstrips the 1,500 baht per square metre associated with broiler chickens or dairy cows.

 

Thailand's strategic move to capture a larger portion of the sustainable protein sector showcases its adaptability and forward-thinking in confronting the challenges posed by climate change and shifting consumer preferences. As the market for insect-based products grows, Thailand stands ready to leverage its strengths in this rapidly evolving industry.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-05-14

 

 

[connda]

"Eat zee bugz commoners."

Me?  Think I'll grill a steak tonight.  I'll leave the bugs for Klaus Schwab to eat.

[save the frogs]

11 hours ago, connda said:

"Eat zee bugz commoners."

 

Well, beef / lamb / salmon are exorbitantly priced and most people cannot afford to feed their families, if they even understood it's nutritional value.

 

There's way too many people on the planet, hence the bugs. 

 

Hopefully, AI will come up with lab meats that taste as good as real meat and is just as healthy, otherwise we may be headed down a path where bugs are the only source of protein available.

 

Meat has been banned before in some countries throughout history. It could happen again.

 

 

[johng]

1 minute ago, save the frogs said:

Hopefully, AI will come up with lab meats that taste as good as real meat and is just as healthy, otherwise we may be headed down a path where bugs are the only source of protein available.

 

No no and just no..this is a totally contrived scenario...they say that the climate cannot sustain meat production for the 8 billion and rising people  on the planet

their solution is not only reduce the meat  but to reduce the human population too.

I say <deleted> to AI,Klaus Schwab the WEF and all the others trying to enslave humanity in a dystopian nightmare.

[johng]

17 minutes ago, connda said:

I'll leave the bugs for Klaus Schwab to eat.

 

That a hole thinks he is above the rest of the world  he won't be eating the bugs

even though he is the first that should be.

[save the frogs]

12 hours ago, johng said:

 

No no and just no..this is a totally contrived scenario...they say that the climate cannot sustain meat production for the 8 billion and rising people  on the planet

their solution is not only reduce the meat  but to reduce the human population too.

I say <deleted> to AI,Klaus Schwab the WEF and all the others trying to enslave humanity in a dystopian nightmare.

 

No, if they reduced the population they wouldn't need to get rid of the meat.

 

I think it's easier for them to get rid of cows than people. 

 

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand's established prowess in insect farming positions it as a key player.

Maybe get Lisa to lead the way...

[jaywalker]

13 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

No, if they reduced the population they wouldn't need to get rid of the meat.

 

I think it's easier for them to get rid of cows than people. 

 

Eat all the bugs you want Brother, but don't get between me and a ribeye.

 

I tried tucutan once. Not  bad, but ribeyes rule! I can drink a fifth of Jack Daniels after a large ribeye and feel like a champ in the morning. Try that with a pound of crickets or silkworms....OH YUMMY!

[FlorC]

As long as they put it in big letters on the package that it contains

bug proteins , ok.

Thailand the hub of bug protein.

 

As much as I hate Schwab and his WEF buddies , they are right.

[brfsa2]

Cricket protein is amazing, if you do weight training, you gotta try it!

It's not too expensive but not that cheap, I get 1kg for 1000baht. I finish it in 2-3 weeks.

It has all the amino-acids and extra, it has some vitamins and also chitin (a prebiotic fiber)

 

anyone has found cheaper sources? dont tell me to eat crickets, I can eat, but dont enjoy the diarrhea that comes  after 💩

Lately I tried PEA protein and it feels a lot better to digest than Why or Cricket.

[newbee2022]

Splendid idea.

Actually I like these insects if they are fresh done in fresh hot oil.

Like potatoe chips. Yummy🥰

[brfsa2]

15 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

Well, beef / lamb / salmon are exorbitantly priced and most people cannot afford to feed their families, if they even understood it's nutritional value.

 

There's way too many people on the planet, hence the bugs. 

 

Hopefully, AI will come up with lab meats that taste as good as real meat and is just as healthy, otherwise we may be headed down a path where bugs are the only source of protein available.

 

Meat has been banned before in some countries throughout history. It could happen again.

 

 

The Lamb at Makro is really good, I gave up on Beef, it's just soooo terrible now a days, dont know what is happening to Thailand. 

All the good and cheap beef are nowhere to be seen... makro, tesco, etc.

only left is Lamb if I am lucky to get at Makro.

[MarkBR]

All food for livestock could be recycled from insect-produced protein - re. aquaculture.  Feed in waste to soldier-fly larvae, then turn the resulting protein into fish or shrimp/goong food.

Forest produce a lot of cicada nymphs - commonly used for food in the north

Anything insect-like could be turned it edible paste with appropriate flavourings added

Personally, for me it must not look like insects, cannot eat them.  But appreciate the potential value that exists for Thailand

[johng]

17 minutes ago, FlorC said:

As much as I hate Schwab and his WEF buddies , they are right.

 

They are despicable and their plans should be resisted at every opportunity.

 

 

[Sydebolle]

Just make sure that the food industry does not go down the same alley with those crickets et al, as with most other food items in the last 20 - 30 years. 

When I arrived, one could literally eat at each and every food stall, street side or elsewhere, and got a tasty home cooked dish served. Today most of the food is terrible; tons of MSG (Ajinomoto and friends) as well as sugar became acquired tastes and the result is inedible. That happened over only one generation. 

When I arrived, Thai jasmine rice was - by far and second to none - the planet's best rice for Thai dishes, unmatched and not comparable to Japanese rice or Risotto from Italy as the latter being completely different rice crops. Along came Yingluck with one (of many) election promises to guarantee a minimum price of 15,000 Baht per ton of rice .....  I F ..... she would get elected. Well, she got elected and then the loyal voter base started reeling in Cambodian, Laotian and Burmese rice across the border; those rice shipments would have fetched much less than 15,000 Baht a ton. So that (different, if not inferior) rice quality got nicely mixed into the pristine rice and sold off at the promised amount. Eventually she got dethroned, fled the country, the army under Prayuth stepped in and Uncle Tu paid out the open claims. Some of the rice was sitting nicely for a decade in government warehouses until one minister had the glorious idea of selling the rotten rice to "Africa" - remember that beauty? In short, the pristine rice of the past is  ..... a thing of the past. 

So just beware of the next hoax; that sustainable protein might be the next victim of Thailand's greed of "optimizing" food costs ........ you've been warned 😉 

[connda]

16 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

Well, beef / lamb / salmon are exorbitantly priced and most people cannot afford to feed their families, if they even understood it's nutritional value.

 

There's way too many people on the planet, hence the bugs. 

 

Hopefully, AI will come up with lab meats that taste as good as real meat and is just as healthy, otherwise we may be headed down a path where bugs are the only source of protein available.

 

Meat has been banned before in some countries throughout history. It could happen again.

 

 

And you can eat zee bugs as well. 

"There's way too many people on the planet, hence the bugs."

You must be a member of the WEF, 'eh?

• "Global Fertility Crisis Deepens: Most Countries Face Population Decline as Birth Rates Crash"
  The Spectator reports that global birth rates are falling faster than expected, with nearly all nations outside sub-Saharan Africa below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, projecting a population peak and decline by 2060.

   

  
• "Europe’s Baby Bust: Germany, Austria, and Estonia Join Ultra-Low Fertility Club"
  Posted by

  @MarioNawfal

  on X, this headline notes Germany’s fertility rate dropping to 1.35 and Austria’s to 1.3, signaling a demographic crisis in Europe where populations are not replacing themselves.
• "Humanity’s Silent Extinction: Birth Rates Plummet Globally, Sparing Only Sub-Saharan Africa"
  A post by

  @MarioNawfal

  on X highlights that birth rates are collapsing worldwide, with South Korea at 0.72 and Italy and Iran also tanking, while sub-Saharan Africa remains the exception.
• "World Faces Historic Shift: Birth Rates Below Replacement Levels in Most Regions"
  Mario Nawfal’s X post discusses how the global population is no longer replacing itself, with declines spreading to Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, but not sub-Saharan Africa.
• "Global Population to Peak Sooner as Fertility Rates Collapse Outside Africa"
  The Economist reports that new evidence shows birth rates falling rapidly, particularly in Asia and Latin America, with Africa’s high fertility rates as an outlier, potentially leading to a smaller global population peak.

   

  
• "Low Birth Rates Threaten Economies as Most Nations Fall Below Replacement Level"
  Reuters cites a Lancet study projecting that by 2050, 76% of countries (155 of 204) will have fertility rates below 2.1, with only sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Middle East sustaining growth.

   

  
• "Developed Nations Face Population Collapse: Underpopulation Outweighs Overpopulation"
  An X post by

  @ZubyMusic

  emphasizes that countries like South Korea, Japan, and Italy are on track for population collapse due to fertility rates far below replacement, unlike Africa.
• "Global Fertility Rates to Keep Falling, Burden Shifting to Poorer Nations"
  Think Global Health reports that global fertility will decline through 2100, with over 75% of births by century’s end in low-income countries, mainly sub-Saharan Africa, as other regions age.

   

  
• "Middle East Joins Global Fertility Decline, Raising Economic Concerns"
  Arab News highlights the Middle East’s birth rate drop from 6.2 in 1980 to 2.7 in 2020, with many countries below replacement, posing challenges for workforce and economic growth.

   

  
• "Shocking Fertility Collapse: Canada, Chile, and Poland Below 1.3 Children Per Woman"
  An X post by

  @MoreBirths

  underscores the severity of the fertility crisis, with countries like Canada (1.24), Chile (0.90), and Poland (1.1) far below replacement, while Africa and parts of the Middle East buck the trend.

[johng]

2 minutes ago, connda said:

Global Fertility Crisis Deepens: Most Countries Face Population Decline as Birth Rates Crash"

 

There might just be an answer here.

 

Rates of Successful Conceptions According to COVID-19 Vaccination Status: Data from the Czech Republic

https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202504.2487/v1

[Cameroni]

I had this really attractive girl. An out and out 11 out 10. But  when she started revealing she was crazy about eating bugs, it took her down a whole point.

 

Something off about it.

[save the frogs]

13 hours ago, brfsa2 said:

The Lamb at Makro is really good, I gave up on Beef, it's just soooo terrible now a days, dont know what is happening to Thailand. 

All the good and cheap beef are nowhere to be seen... makro, tesco, etc.

only left is Lamb if I am lucky to get at Makro.

 

Lamb grazes and eats its natural food, so healthier than most beef unless beef is grass-fed.

Most beef is fed grains, which is not healthy for them or for us. 

 

Lamb is even more expensive than beef

How many grams of Lamb do you eat daily?

How many grams of meat should humans be consuming daily?

Can the average Thai person afford to feed their family on lamb?

 

Nope. Way way way too expensive. 

 

My point is that meat can be completely banned one day.

But even now, it's already quasi-banned because it's unaffordable for many people. 

 

Why don't we bring the cost of meat down so it's not a luxury item for the middle class and get rid of grains? 

 

 

 

 

[Jone500]

I like crispy fried grasshoppers with soy sauce and pepper they taste great. But seriously, how many idiots out there would actually want to try those mushy silkworm pupae?

[chilli42]

Would it be too much to ask exactly who is leading this initiative in Thailand? Who is making the investments to seize this lucrative business opportunity? How about a bit of basic journalism. This comes off as a puff piece for those who are drinking the climate change Kool-Aid

[Woke to Sounds]

18 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Meat has been banned before in some countries throughout history. It could happen again.

 

The Elites will have their fliet mignon and barbecue no matter what.

 

The Profane will be priced out.

 

It'll be grub pancakes and cricket casserole...  mmmmm good

 

 

[save the frogs]

11 hours ago, Woke to Sounds said:

 

The Elites will have their fliet mignon and barbecue no matter what.

 

The Profane will be priced out.

 

It'll be grub pancakes and cricket casserole...  mmmmm good

 

 

 

Well, as it stands now, most of us westerners are part of the elites as it pertains to being able to afford good quality lamb and beef. Most Thais cannot even afford to eat red meat. 

 

But I do not like being an elitist and would like to envision a world where lamb is accessible to everyone. 

 

Imagine there's no crickets. It isn't hard to do. 

 

 

[johng]

2 hours ago, chilli42 said:

Would it be too much to ask exactly who is leading this initiative in Thailand

My first guess would be CPall

[Reddavy]

On 5/14/2025 at 10:57 AM, snoop1130 said:

File photo for reference only

 

Thailand is gearing up to seize a significant share of the burgeoning global edible insect market, with projections indicating a growth rate of 25.1% annually from 2025 to 2030. As consumers worldwide increasingly turn to sustainable protein alternatives, Thailand's established prowess in insect farming positions it as a key player.

 

Currently the world's sixth-largest insect exporter, Thailand benefits from both a strong tradition of insect agriculture and a growing domestic acceptance of insects as food. This provides a robust foundation for further expansion in the industry, which is being driven by the need for more eco-friendly protein sources amid concerns about the environmental impact of traditional livestock farming.

 

To put the benefits into perspective, conventional livestock farming accounts for about 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In stark contrast, insect farming boasts a significantly smaller environmental footprint. For instance, producing one kilogram of insect protein results in only one kilogram of CO₂ emissions—27 to 40 times less than that from common livestock. Additionally, insect farming demands 5-13 times less water and feed compared to cattle, pigs, and chickens, and it can be conducted in much smaller spaces with enhanced efficiency.

 

The Kasikorn Research Center highlights Thailand's competitive edge in this sector, as the country currently produces over 7,000 tonnes of what it terms 'economic insects' annually. Rising global temperatures, which threaten traditional livestock yields, could actually benefit insect farming, as many species thrive in warmer conditions, potentially speeding up production cycles.

 

For Thai farmers, this focus on insects presents a promising financial opportunity. The initial investment required to start a basic cricket farm is estimated at 45,000 to 75,000 baht. Fresh insect sales can yield profits ranging from 9,600 to 37,000 baht annually. If farmers process insects into flour, profits could soar to 260,000 baht per year. Furthermore, the land-use efficiency of raising insects could generate a higher income—up to 9,300 baht per square metre, which significantly outstrips the 1,500 baht per square metre associated with broiler chickens or dairy cows.

 

Thailand's strategic move to capture a larger portion of the sustainable protein sector showcases its adaptability and forward-thinking in confronting the challenges posed by climate change and shifting consumer preferences. As the market for insect-based products grows, Thailand stands ready to leverage its strengths in this rapidly evolving industry.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-05-14

 

 

Ehhhh no thanx i’ll stick to steak 😋

[Mitker]

10 hours ago, brfsa2 said:

Cricket protein is amazing, if you do weight training, you gotta try it!

It's not too expensive but not that cheap, I get 1kg for 1000baht. I finish it in 2-3 weeks.

It has all the amino-acids and extra, it has some vitamins and also chitin (a prebiotic fiber)

 

anyone has found cheaper sources? dont tell me to eat crickets, I can eat, but dont enjoy the diarrhea that comes  after 💩

Lately I tried PEA protein and it feels a lot better to digest than Why or Cricket.

We had a home-made pizza with cricket topping the other day
Excellent and no side effects after that
The walnut smell emitted when cooking is amazing

Just think that they're part of the same family as shrimps (that we have no trouble eating)

[quake]

6 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

Well, as it stands now, most of us westerners are part of the elites as it pertains to being able to afford good quality lamb and beef. Most Thais cannot even afford to eat red meat. 

 

But I do not like being an elitist and would like to envision a world where lamb is accessible to everyone. 

 

Imagine there's no crickets. It isn't hard to do. 

 

 

Sorry to inform you

but most Thais eat pork everyday.

It's also classed as a red meat. 

 

[save the frogs]

16 hours ago, quake said:

 

Sorry to inform you

but most Thais eat pork everyday.

It's also classed as a red meat. 

 

 

strange that pork used to be called "the other white meat" .... can't remember where ... ads? 

but it does appear to be classified as red technically ...