Cayle Judge

Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Alcock, Frank

Area of Concentration

International and Area Studies

Abstract

With the estimation that the world’s population will reach 9 billion by 2050, the FAO has endeavored since 2013 to ensure food security by promoting insects as a sustainable alternative protein source to traditional livestock. However, a lack of information and studies regarding the subject of human entomophagy has left many ambiguities on whether insects will be a successful in practice as well as theory. This study will address three central questions to understand the success of human entomophagy in practice and promotion. First, does eating insects make sense sustainably, nutritionally, and for food security? Second, how and why is the FAO considered an ubiquitous authority on the subject? Third, how is modern entomophagy practiced today in consumption, production and trade? After looking at the most recent studies since the FAO’s 2013 promotion of edible insects, this research finds that while insects are a nutritional and sustainable alternative source of protein to traditional livestock, entomophagy as a tool for food security relies heavily on the location and natural availability of edible insects.

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