Insects as an Alternative Source of Animal Protein in Southeast Asia

Jan Somol

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

Although humans evolved eating insects and entomophagy is still a common practice in many countries around the world, western society views insect foods mostly with disgust. This thesis investigated available literature on topic of edible species of insects in Southeast Asia as a source of protein. Different species of insects including honeybees, crickets, palm weevils, mantises, wasps, or hornets were investigated in this work. Species of edible insects can be either farmed or harvested from wild. Insects are farmed not only for human consumption, but also as sustainable animal feed or to produce natural oil or fertilizer. Insects are very rich in nutrients. Edible insects have high content of protein with all essential amino acids present. Lipids can reach up to 36.5% of dry matter. Insects are also great source of minerals and vitamins. This work also describes preferred ontogenetic stages of each species and preferred ways of preparation. Furthermore, benefits of eating insects reach beyond nutrition, as they are easily raised and are great sustainable and more environment friendly alternative to conventional livestock, such as beef, pork, poultry, or fish. Outcome of this work is a comparative table of 9 farmed species and 21 species and groups of species that are foraged in the wild. Species coming from farms have undoubtedly the highest protein content when compared to wild caught species, even to individuals of the same species caught in wild. Bombyx mori larvae contain up to 71.4% of protein which is the highest of the investigated species. The most popular ways of processing are frying and roasting. Country with the highest rate of eaten insects is Thailand.

Keywords

insect, proteins, human nutrition, protein sources, insect processing

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 15. 4. 2022

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Iva Kučerová, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Bachelor programme:
Tropical Agriculture