[Why don't we eat bugs?]
[Why don't we eat bugs?]

For centuries, people have consumed bugs,
For centuries, people have consumed bugs,

everything from beetles
everything from beetles

to caterpillars, locusts,
to caterpillars, locusts,

grasshoppers, termites, and dragonflies.
grasshoppers, termites, and dragonflies.

The practice even has a name:
The practice even has a name:

entomophagy.
entomophagy.

Early hunter-gatherers probably learned from animals
Early hunter-gatherers probably learned from animals

that foraged for protein-rich insects and followed suit.
that foraged for protein-rich insects and followed suit.

As we evolved and bugs became part of our dietary tradition,
As we evolved and bugs became part of our dietary tradition,

they fulfilled the role of both staple food and delicacy.
they fulfilled the role of both staple food and delicacy.

In ancient Greece, cicadas were considered luxury snacks.
In ancient Greece, cicadas were considered luxury snacks.

And even the Romans found beetle larvae to be scrumptious.
And even the Romans found beetle larvae to be scrumptious.

Why have we lost our taste for bugs?
Why have we lost our taste for bugs?

The reason for our rejection is historical,
The reason for our rejection is historical,

and the story probably begins
and the story probably begins

around 10,000 BC in the Fertile Crescent,
around 10,000 BC in the Fertile Crescent,

a place in the Middle East
a place in the Middle East

that was a major birthplace of agriculture.
that was a major birthplace of agriculture.

Back then, our once-nomadic ancestors began to settle in the Crescent.
Back then, our once-nomadic ancestors began to settle in the Crescent.

And as they learned to farm crops and domesticate animals there,
And as they learned to farm crops and domesticate animals there,

attitudes changed,
attitudes changed,

rippling outwards towards Europe and the rest of the Western world.
rippling outwards towards Europe and the rest of the Western world.

As farming took off,
As farming took off,

people might have spurned bugs as mere pests
people might have spurned bugs as mere pests

that destroyed their crops.
that destroyed their crops.

Populations grew, and the West became urbanized,
Populations grew, and the West became urbanized,

weakening connections with our foraging past.
weakening connections with our foraging past.

People simply forgot their bug-rich history.
People simply forgot their bug-rich history.

Today, for people not accustomed to entomophagy,
Today, for people not accustomed to entomophagy,

bugs are just an irritant.
bugs are just an irritant.

They sting and bite and infest our food.
They sting and bite and infest our food.

We feel an "ick factor" associated with them
We feel an "ick factor" associated with them

and are disgusted by the prospect of cooking insects.
and are disgusted by the prospect of cooking insects.

Almost 2,000 insect species are turned into food,
Almost 2,000 insect species are turned into food,

forming a big part of everyday diets
forming a big part of everyday diets

for two billion people around the world.
for two billion people around the world.

Countries in the tropics are the keenest consumers,
Countries in the tropics are the keenest consumers,

because culturally, it's acceptable.
because culturally, it's acceptable.

Species in those regions are also large, diverse,
Species in those regions are also large, diverse,

and tend to congregate in groups or swarms
and tend to congregate in groups or swarms

that make them easy to harvest.
that make them easy to harvest.

Take Cambodia in Southeast Asia
Take Cambodia in Southeast Asia

where huge tarantulas are gathered,
where huge tarantulas are gathered,

fried, and sold in the marketplace.
fried, and sold in the marketplace.

In southern Africa,
In southern Africa,

the juicy mopane worm is a dietary staple,
the juicy mopane worm is a dietary staple,

simmered in a spicy sauce
simmered in a spicy sauce

or eaten dried and salted.
or eaten dried and salted.

And in Mexico, chopped jumiles are toasted with garlic, lemon, and salt.
And in Mexico, chopped jumiles are toasted with garlic, lemon, and salt.

Bugs can be eaten whole to make up a meal
Bugs can be eaten whole to make up a meal

or ground into flour, powder, and paste to add to food.
or ground into flour, powder, and paste to add to food.

But it's not all about taste.
But it's not all about taste.

They're also healthy.
They're also healthy.

In fact, scientists say entomophagy could be a cost-effective solution
In fact, scientists say entomophagy could be a cost-effective solution

for developing countries that are food insecure.
for developing countries that are food insecure.

Insects can contain up to 80% protein,
Insects can contain up to 80% protein,

the body's vital building blocks,
the body's vital building blocks,

and are also high in energy-rich fat,
and are also high in energy-rich fat,

fiber, and micronutrients like vitamins and minerals.
fiber, and micronutrients like vitamins and minerals.

Did you know that most edible insects contain the same amount
Did you know that most edible insects contain the same amount

or even more mineral iron than beef,
or even more mineral iron than beef,

making them a huge, untapped resource when you consider that iron deficiency
making them a huge, untapped resource when you consider that iron deficiency

is currently the most common nutritional problem in the world?
is currently the most common nutritional problem in the world?

The mealworm is another nutritious example.
The mealworm is another nutritious example.

The yellow beetle larvae are native to America and easy to farm.
The yellow beetle larvae are native to America and easy to farm.

They have a high vitamin content,
They have a high vitamin content,

loads of healthy minerals,
loads of healthy minerals,

and can contain up to 50% protein,
and can contain up to 50% protein,

almost as much as in an equivalent amount of beef.
almost as much as in an equivalent amount of beef.

To cook, simply sauté in butter and salt
To cook, simply sauté in butter and salt

or roast and drizzle with chocolate for a crunchy snack.
or roast and drizzle with chocolate for a crunchy snack.

What you have to overcome in "ick factor,"
What you have to overcome in "ick factor,"

you gain in nutrition and taste.
you gain in nutrition and taste.

Indeed, bugs can be delicious.
Indeed, bugs can be delicious.

Mealworms taste like roasted nuts.
Mealworms taste like roasted nuts.

Locusts are similar to shrimp.
Locusts are similar to shrimp.

Crickets, some people say, have an aroma of popcorn.
Crickets, some people say, have an aroma of popcorn.

Farming insects for food also has less environmental impact
Farming insects for food also has less environmental impact

than livestock farms do
than livestock farms do

because insects emit far less greenhouse gas
because insects emit far less greenhouse gas

and use up less space, water, and food.
and use up less space, water, and food.

Socioeconomically, bug production
Socioeconomically, bug production

could uplift people in developing countries
could uplift people in developing countries

since insect farms can be small scale,
since insect farms can be small scale,

highly productive, and yet relatively inexpensive to keep.
highly productive, and yet relatively inexpensive to keep.

Insects can also be turned into more sustainable food for livestock
Insects can also be turned into more sustainable food for livestock

and can be reared on organic waste,
and can be reared on organic waste,

like vegetable peelings,
like vegetable peelings,

that might otherwise just end up rotting in landfills.
that might otherwise just end up rotting in landfills.

Feeling hungry yet?
Feeling hungry yet?

Faced with a plate of fried crickets, most people today would still recoil,
Faced with a plate of fried crickets, most people today would still recoil,

imagining all those legs and feelers getting stuck between their teeth.
imagining all those legs and feelers getting stuck between their teeth.

But think of a lobster.
But think of a lobster.

It's pretty much just a giant insect with legs and feelers galore
It's pretty much just a giant insect with legs and feelers galore

that was once regarded as an inferior, repulsive food.
that was once regarded as an inferior, repulsive food.

Now, lobster is a delicacy.
Now, lobster is a delicacy.

Can the same paradigm shift happen for bugs?
Can the same paradigm shift happen for bugs?

So, give it a try!
So, give it a try!

Pop that insect into your mouth,
Pop that insect into your mouth,

and savor the crunch.
and savor the crunch.