Philosophy
This will not work anytime soon except at weird partys. It is more than just making the insect palatable but convincing people of the concept. McDonald's new entree...the Happy Roach or Egg and Cricket Biscuit?
Cattle farming worldwide is a major producer of greenhouse gases. For the assessment of the sustainability of insect meat, the researchers at Wageningen University quantified the production of greenhouse gases of several edible insect species. The results of the study were published in the renowned online journal PLoS ONE on 29 December.
The research team has for the first time quantified the greenhouse gases produced per kilogram of insect product. The gases concerned were methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). The results demonstrate that insects produce much smaller quantities of greenhouse gases than conventional livestock such as cattle and pigs. For example, a pig produces between ten and a hundred times as much greenhouse gases per kilogram compared with mealworms. Emissions of ammonia (which causes the acidification and eutrophication of groundwater) also appear to be significantly lower. A pig produces between eight and twelve times as much ammonia per kilogram of growth compared to crickets, and up to fifty times more than locusts. An additional advantage of insects over mammals is that they convert their food into meat quicker.
The study indicates that proteins originating from insects in principle form an environmentally-friendly alternative to proteins from meat originating from conventional livestock. Further research is required to ascertain whether the production of a kilogram of insect protein is also more environmentally friendly than conventional animal protein when the entire production chain is taken into account.
- Amazing Close-up Macro Photographs Of Bugs
I've been noticing this week that the internet seems to have become the victim of an insect photography awesomeness epidemic. Don't quite know if that's just a coincidence, or some entomological trend of which I am not aware, but who cares?...
- "tinkerbella Nana" Is Just 250 Micrometers In Length
"The real Tinker Bell: Scientists discover new species of minute fairyfly that is just one quarter of a millimetre long" by Becky Evans April 25th, 2013 Daily Mail It may not be as common as the Peter Pan fairy, but this newly discovered insect is...
- Pest Control For Ancient Humans
It was inevitable. Like so many ancient discoveries...chance and reasoning. How many had to suffer or die before these discoveries. "Scientists say ancient human bedding used for pest control" by Ed Stoddard December 9th, 2011 Reuters Almost 80,000...
- Neanderthals Cooked Their Vegetables
An interesting story. I often wondered how many lives were lost before ancient man realized which plants were poisonous, medicinal, and tasty and the same with hunting technology or even sex and communication. "Neanderthals cooked and ate vegetables"...
- Serendipity Again...in Massachusetts
This undated handout image shows what U.S. researchers say appears to be the oldest imprint of a prehistoric insect, made while the dragonfly-like creature was still alive. The fossilized remains were uncovered two weeks ago at a rocky outcrop near a...
Philosophy
Bug food?
This will not work anytime soon except at weird partys. It is more than just making the insect palatable but convincing people of the concept. McDonald's new entree...the Happy Roach or Egg and Cricket Biscuit?
"Replace cattle? Edible insects produce smaller quantities of greenhouse gases"
Insects produce much smaller quantities of greenhouse gases per kilogram of meat than cattle and pigs. This is the conclusion of Dutch team of scientists at Wageningen University, who have joined forces with government and industry to investigate whether the rearing of insects could contribute to more sustainable protein production. Insect meat could therefore form an alternative to more conventional types of meat.
January 11th, 2011
PhysOrg.com
Insects produce much smaller quantities of greenhouse gases per kilogram of meat than cattle and pigs. This is the conclusion of Dutch team of scientists at Wageningen University, who have joined forces with government and industry to investigate whether the rearing of insects could contribute to more sustainable protein production. Insect meat could therefore form an alternative to more conventional types of meat.
January 11th, 2011
PhysOrg.com
Cattle farming worldwide is a major producer of greenhouse gases. For the assessment of the sustainability of insect meat, the researchers at Wageningen University quantified the production of greenhouse gases of several edible insect species. The results of the study were published in the renowned online journal PLoS ONE on 29 December.
The research team has for the first time quantified the greenhouse gases produced per kilogram of insect product. The gases concerned were methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). The results demonstrate that insects produce much smaller quantities of greenhouse gases than conventional livestock such as cattle and pigs. For example, a pig produces between ten and a hundred times as much greenhouse gases per kilogram compared with mealworms. Emissions of ammonia (which causes the acidification and eutrophication of groundwater) also appear to be significantly lower. A pig produces between eight and twelve times as much ammonia per kilogram of growth compared to crickets, and up to fifty times more than locusts. An additional advantage of insects over mammals is that they convert their food into meat quicker.
The study indicates that proteins originating from insects in principle form an environmentally-friendly alternative to proteins from meat originating from conventional livestock. Further research is required to ascertain whether the production of a kilogram of insect protein is also more environmentally friendly than conventional animal protein when the entire production chain is taken into account.
- Amazing Close-up Macro Photographs Of Bugs
I've been noticing this week that the internet seems to have become the victim of an insect photography awesomeness epidemic. Don't quite know if that's just a coincidence, or some entomological trend of which I am not aware, but who cares?...
- "tinkerbella Nana" Is Just 250 Micrometers In Length
"The real Tinker Bell: Scientists discover new species of minute fairyfly that is just one quarter of a millimetre long" by Becky Evans April 25th, 2013 Daily Mail It may not be as common as the Peter Pan fairy, but this newly discovered insect is...
- Pest Control For Ancient Humans
It was inevitable. Like so many ancient discoveries...chance and reasoning. How many had to suffer or die before these discoveries. "Scientists say ancient human bedding used for pest control" by Ed Stoddard December 9th, 2011 Reuters Almost 80,000...
- Neanderthals Cooked Their Vegetables
An interesting story. I often wondered how many lives were lost before ancient man realized which plants were poisonous, medicinal, and tasty and the same with hunting technology or even sex and communication. "Neanderthals cooked and ate vegetables"...
- Serendipity Again...in Massachusetts
This undated handout image shows what U.S. researchers say appears to be the oldest imprint of a prehistoric insect, made while the dragonfly-like creature was still alive. The fossilized remains were uncovered two weeks ago at a rocky outcrop near a...