Singapore is the latest country to put more bugs on the menu.
What happened: Singapore approved 16 species of insects for human consumption. The smorgasbord of edible bugs includes types of crickets, grasshoppers, and silkworms.
Why it matters: Some agricultural experts think that more of the world needs to start adding bugs to its diet as they are a highly sustainable protein source. When compared to traditional livestock, they need less space to farm, consume less feed and water, and emit far less gas.
In Canada: Investments in the insect protein industry have gone up in recent years. There are dozens of insect agriculture companies in the country with the federal government even investing $8.5 million in cricket-protein producer Aspire in 2022 to help build a new facility.
- If a food has a proven history of safe consumption internationally, it’s designated a non-novel food in Canada and is approved for eating (assuming general food and safety regulations are met).
- This designation has been given to varieties of crickets, mealworms, and silkworms, but other edible bugs remain unapproved.
Bottom line: To grow further, the sector will need to push for more government approvals and — even more importantly — convince people to eat its creepy crawlies. While insects are consumed in many cultures, it could be a hard sell for some North Americans.—QH