Santanu Bhattacharjee
Case Western Reserve University - Weatherhead School of Management
Chris Laszlo
Keep this story going! Share below!
1.Support sustainable farming practices.
2. Reduce food and feed waste at each step of the supply chain, supplement or replace less efficient animal and plant proteins, provide stable incomes for marginalized and isolated populations
3. Promote edible insect consumption
Edible insect farming in USA has still a long way to go. Back in 2006, it was non-existent. The few insect farms that existed during that period only reared insects for animal consumption such as bait for fish, etc. There were also no clear-cut guidelines for FDA approval of edible insects reared in farms for human consumption. Edible insects offer a sustainable protein source. In 2013, the UN report for food security indicated this fact. They use a fraction of water, food and space used by traditional farm animals such as cows and pigs etc. From a sustainability angle, they can provide an alternative protein source.
During a visit to Thailand in 2006, the owner Mr. Kevin Bachhuber happened to eat crickets in a restaurant near a sea beach. He enjoyed the taste. When he returned to USA later, he found that he could not find any edible insect in any grocery store or supermarket. Later he decided to study the advantages of farming edible insects. He was amazed how sustainable it was compared to traditional farm animals such as cow and pigs. He decided to open the first cricket farm in USA. It was the first insect farm that was FDA approved and fit for human consumption. He then opened the Bachhuber consulting firm in 2014 to help farmers in sustainable insect farming.
From a sustainability perspective, edible insects are one of the best sources of protein. Cricket farms are far more space efficient, cleaner and require fewer resources compared to the resources required to produce equivalent protein as in a pound of beef or a pound of soy bean. Crickets significantly outperform beef in nutritional and environmental standards. For example, studies show that 30 grams of beef produces 1815 times more greenhouse gases, produces 2.5 times less protein, than 30 grams of cricket. Crickets on an average live on farm only for 32 days from hatching to harvesting. The overall impact on the environment is positive.
To cater to the booming demand in edible insect in USA, existing insect farms in USA are falling short in fulfilling orders. Moreover, the lack of proper guidance and necessary procedures also present difficulties in getting FDA approval for the insects that are grown in farms for the purpose of human consumption. The consultancy service provides all required support to a farmer to start from scratch to build his / her farm to rearing the edible insects and finally selling them to the market. It also helps in obtaining FDA approval from authorities. It fully focuses on sustainable edible insect farming which is an alternative source of protein. It is profitable in a short period of time.
Edible insect farming is sustainable. It benefits both society and environment positively. With growing food demand all over the world, sustainable insect farming can provide an alternative source of protein which requires fewer resource than from an equivalent amount from traditional protein sources. The culinary aspects of edible insects provide variety in food. It provides a source of sustainable livelihood to the farmers involved. It provides a way to the UN goal of hunger elimination.
Get stories of positive business innovations from around the world delivered right to your inbox.
Jakub Dzamba, Employee
1. The business involves providing consultancy services such as information, documentation and technology, obtaining FDA approval to farmers in the field of cricket farming helping them from scratch to selling the products in the market.
2. Educates farmers in sustainable insect farming and the culinary aspects of edible insects.