INSECTS - A SUSTAINABLE SOURCE OF FOOD

Insects as a major animal group possess enormous biodiversity and form a colossal biomass in nature that generally is wasted. Insects offer us many benefits, including their use in human and animal nutrition, i n medicine, religion, art, and handicrafts. Also, they are efficient r ecyclers of organic matter and provide a source of economic gain for t he poor through their commercialization.Even if insects are considered by developed nations as an emergency and nonconventional food of low prestige, they are part of the daily diet of the larger part of humani ty, that conceive them as a healthy, nutritious and savory meal, const ituting sometimes the only significant source of protein of good quali ty. Up to date we have recorded around 2000 different edible insect sp ecies in the world. Because of their high nutritive value and ubiquito us presence, insects present a potential sustainable food source for h umans. Once was select suitable species and develop appropriate breedi ng methods, insects can provide a reliable and sustainable source of h igh-quality animal protein.