Thailand is now the largest producer of edible insects



BANGKOK: -- As the world discovers the culinary secrets that countries like Africa, Asia and Latin America have long known Thailand’s edible insects farming industry is taking off like never before.

As the world wakes up to insects that are very nutritious and can be very tasty growth in this market has become rapid. Thailand now has 20,000 insect farms that produce 7,500 tons of edible insects such as crickets and grasshoppers each year.

Comparatively, against other food stuffs, insects are pretty easy to produce and they are kind to the environment. It takes only two pounds of feed and one gallon of water to produce a pound of crickets which compared to the twenty five pounds of feed and two thousand nine hundred gallons of water you need beef, makes insects a great low impact alternative protein.

As well as the financial benefits there are health benefits too, crickets contain 12.9 grams of protein per 100 grams which is around half the protein contained in foodstuffs such as beef and chicken.

Giant water beetles go one step further with 19.8 grams of protein per 100 grams and caterpillars have 28.2 grams of protein per 100 grams which is more than beef and chicken and as much as some fish.

Crickets have found their way to the US where cricket protein bars can be purchase as well as cricket flour that can be used for baking, and if the trend to use insects continues then Thailand could be sitting on an industry that could really take off!


-- Samui Times 2014-09-29

when you consider that only recently they were telling people not to eat too many insects due to the high contaminants/poisons contained in them we really have to wonder what is going on. Obviously they are not telling anyone outside Thailand about all these poisons in the hope to make as much as possible until we maybe see a few deaths from them, after all thats what they said was happening here. Seems money does come before peoples health and well being in Thailand, after all, what a few deaths with all the profits you can make

Have I seen this thread before or am I dreaming?

No I'm not

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/763872-thailand-is-now-the-largest-producer-or-edible-insects/

can't beat a good steak

can't beat a good steak

Amen to that. Eric Bahrt be damned.

Hurrah! Thailand Hub Of Insects!

Hey Rice farmers, take a leaf out of these insect farmers and learn, none of them ever ask

for a government hands outs or marched on to occupy Bkk...

I personally regard 'edible insects' to be an oxymoron, and a dubious honour indeed.

HURRAH, who cares

Wow-and here I was thinking it was only the sex capital of the world-now finally we really have something to be proud of.I know I know-we are not allowed to tell the truth on Thaivisa.

Now THERE is something that will bring the tourists back faster than white on rice.

This revelation is probably the most truthfull and newsworthy news today!.............

Thailand breeds good bugs!

Thailand is Lord Of The Flies !

Why does this not surprise me?

I personally regard 'edible insects' to be an oxymoron, and a dubious honour indeed.

Absolutely true. However, I'm not sure what these birds are munching on.

will this mass production lead to outbreaks of Mad Cricket Disease or Wing and Mouth ?

Thailand the bug of mass pesticide cancer, yes !

actually, if you correctly farm the insects then there are no poisons.

its very likely that insect farming will explode the world around, you can grow insects in skyscrapers or warehouses (both modified to purpose of course)

much like hydroponics - except that growing insects indoors is just as, if not more effective than growing them outdoors or on a remote farm.

in the exploding populations around the world it is anticipated that insect protein will become one of the main food sources - however you probably won't just be chewing down on an insect, it will be mashed and processed and flavoured into something resembling other sorts of food.

if you think that is gross, there are already plenty of bug extracts in food these days, for instance ever had red fanta or anything with red food colouring??

guess where that comes from, the cochineal...

I agree that one can't beat a good steak, however the fact is with raising prices, environmental impacts, increasing populations and rising land prices, an "everyday" protein source that is low - environmental impact is highly desirable - this is one of the reasons factory farming of chicken (and somewhat pork) is so spread around the world, as you can get the highest ROI off the space you have available.

I suspect that steak will become more of a luxury food, especially with things like Angus and Wagyu beef taking off more and more, making it a high premium luxury product... soon the days of steak and 3 veg will be gone everywhere in the world ( and probably for the better!)

Let's take a survey:

USA, UK, France, China, India and Russia (and others) have sent space vehicles way up there.

Cambodia and Vietnam have surpassed Thailand in English knowledge.

Filipinos are better at English and customer service, while working in Thailand.

Thailand is the number one producer / consumer of insects.

Ok, got it.

They had better get used to it!

Hurrah! Thailand Hub Of Insects!

Yea... braggin rights. We (Thailand) have the most insects. Please visit us. lol

I am not eating insects I don't care how good they are cant be better than steamed broccoli and plenty of exercise..

It's what make them have Thainess

Amazing. I caught an article today on Euronews. It came from Belgium and was expounding the virtues of insect eating. Belgium it seems is the first country in Europe to have legal insect farms operating. It seems the word is getting around. How long before we hear 'eat up your bugs kids' at the dining tables of Europe?