A Comparative Overview of Factory Farming to Insect Farming And the Business Potential of Small-Scaled Insect Farms

As omnivores, humans have a deeply engrained appetite for meat. The methods for which we obtain this meat have vastly changed throughout our history. Today, meat is “farmed” in order to meet the demand of the ever-growing population. While the meat industry provides food at a relatively cheap price, there are many underlying consequences and costs that are not as transparent. The methods by which meat is grown are often deployable and inhumane. The sustainability of these farms and the meat industry as a whole is in question. The UN reported that as high as 18% of greenhouse gas emissions are directly linked to the meat industry. They proposed to switch to more sustainable food options, especially to combat global hunger and malnutrition. One such option is insect farming. Insects occupy a vast majority of the world, and yet are often overlooked as a viable source of protein and vitamins. Certain insects, such as crickets, are edible and easy to mass-produce. Many believe that insect farming will use fewer resources than the meat industry and is a viable route for sustainability in food. Also, because insect farming is dually economically savvy and environmentally achievable, insect-farming kits could be produced and distributed to developing nations. By having another sustained food source outlet, these local insect farmers would experience newfound independence, and combat hunger within their areas. With a proper business plan in place, insect farming could effectively transform and become the solution for bettering the world