Northeastern Thais turning edible insects into income

By Digital Media

KHON KAEN: -- In Thailand's northeastern province of Khon Kaen, research on Eri silkworms by Khon Kaen University is showing local residents how to add value to their silkworm crops to earn higher income from them.

Soft and comfortable Eri silkworm silk is prized and is fashionable to wear, but now the worms are being selected as another Thai delicacy to be added to different menus.

In Thailanjd's Northeast, Eri silkworms are commercially viable, popular and easy to farm, especially as they need only to be fed with cassava leaves.

Khon Kaen University's Faculty of Agriculture has led the way in trying to develop the breed, collect, harvest, process and add value to the insects, ultimately aiming for Eri silkworms as an export specialty, particularly when it comes to being Thailand's delicacy.

"We started by making deep-fried Eri silkworms, which we already registered as an intellectual property. We also have some other menus like steamed stuffed buns, steamed dumplings, as well as some other snacks and some special Thai menu items, which we have created; for example, Eri silkworms fried with basil leaves.

"We also have canned silkworms, produced by private companies, to be sold at 35 baht/can, or three cans/100 baht," said Siwilai Sirimangkalarat, an associate professor in the Faculty of Agriculture.

The size of Eri silkworms in their larval state is usually twice as large compared to local silkworms. They also have higher protein than the local bugs.

"What we found when we researched academic literature [around the world] is that Eri silkworms give high protein, ranking among the top five world insects for high protein, which is about 66 per cent, while local silkworms has 10 per cent less protein," Prof Siwilai said.

A student at Khon Kaen University talked about an Eri silkworm food menu that he tried.

"This is an Eri cocoon steamed stuffed bun with a green curry flavour. It is tasty and delicious," said student Pornthep Prempong.

That's good news for bug eaters, for now they will be able to find such delicacies more easily in the market, as local farmers in the Northeast are becoming more and more interested in Eri silkworm farming. There is also a plan for private companies to export canned Eri silkworms abroad.

For farmers, selling such silkworms or the Eri cocoons already generate a considerable income. Eri silkworms are sold at Bt600/kg, and Eri at the larval state at Bt150/kg.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said at least 527 different insects are eaten across 36 countries in Africa, while they are also eaten in 29 countries in Asia and 23 in the Americas. In Thailand alone, almost 200 different insect species are eaten, and vendors selling insects are a common sight throughout the country. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-05-21

Very good...yes, I have eaten various insects, but the idea of a silkworm "popping" as you bite it, just doesn't quite have that much appeal I'm sorry to say...

It's a great idea though, and good luck to the manufacturers (growers?) for the additional or new businesses!

How to contact them to buy some cans ? Thank you.

Good idea! I ate them already , good taste.

Now my skin is "silky".

God i feel sick

Fascinating BBC doc on this in Cambodia & Thailand. Available on Youtube.

This is gonna open a can of worms

Correct me if I'm wrong but to my knowledge there is only one way to kill and insect and keep it physically in tact and that is to use poison. Is that poison harmful to humans and (naive I know) who regulates this?

Nope. cooking bugs also kills them. Dead bugs rot fast, they keep em fresh and lively until needed.

I always have to smile when I see a farang get all grossed out at the idea of eating insects, and then go out and enjoy a plate of shrimp, crab or lobster. Actually those sea-living crustacea they enjoy as a Thai curry or Tom Yam Goong, and the insects they shun, are very close relatives of the biological phylum, the Arthropoda.

It's all about what you're used to, I guess. Bon apetite.

I have also eaten many insects here, but they always disappoint as they usually just taste of the dirty old oil that they are fried in.

I have also eaten many insects here, but they always disappoint as they usually just taste of the dirty old oil that they are fried in.

.

Yep

Problem that

I have also eaten many insects here, but they always disappoint as they usually just taste of the dirty old oil that they are fried in.

True. If you watch the Youtube video you will see that just as with all Thai street food there are places that do it right and the devotees flock there. The guy on the video starts of a skeptic and ends up very much converted, not so much on the tarantulas in Cambodia though .

now they found an excuse when you buy something and you see maggets on them... instead of being overdate, now they can claim : flee plotiens

I've also eaten those deep-fried silkworms at the market -- don't really care for them due to the hard skin and gooey innards. However, there must be a plethora of other tasty products where the protein-rich little buggers can be used without the grossness of the oozing innards.

I had to laugh at at this quote, "We started by making deep-fried Eri silkworms, which we already registered as an intellectual property." Does that mean the Thais involved feel that silkworms and/or deep-frying are proprietary to Thailand?

Oh great - infestations of silk worms ahead. Destruction of important Isaan crop (Cassava) possible? I hope someone has connected the dots .....