When writing an analysis, it is vital to synthesis and explores ideas critically to allow good comparison.
An excellent comparison essay contains sound and reasonable information that is supported by appropriate evidence (Yagelski). This knowledge forms an essential foundation to the analyzing the usage of insects as a source of food.
Insects as a Source of Food
In most parts of the word, bugs are associated with a healthy meal although some places it is viewed as creepy and non-civilized. Development of seasonal insect-eating calendars in the Mexican states has been one historical activity for ages (Gizmodo). Currently, discussions on whether insects are possible means of food security have hit the news for quite some time. The United Nations (UN) itself have suggested that insects are both nutritional and have substantial environmental benefits (Gizmodo). The idea has influenced different reactions from both the media and the society. UN's Food and Agricultural Organization have actively supported the relevance of insects as a prospect for human consumption and animal consumption (Gizmodo). Moreover, insects have been food for decades in different parts of the world as research has shown. However, it is a difficult task to convince people to consume bugs. Therefore, the enormous work is to understand, what could be the possible benefits of insects within the society.
The Unsustainability of the Global Food System
Considering that the global food system is highly dependent on fertilizers, colossal industrialization and a massive amount of irrigation. Facts compiled are expressing that this type of food system as unsustainable and one that is creating significant risks towards universal hunger and obesity (SMIRL 1). Other upcoming issues in the bases of the global food system are food safety issues, the impacts of chemical use in farms and human health (SMIRL 1). The UN has come up with a vast suggestion that advocates for entomophily to solve issue generated from the current global food system. The UN itself has categories these issues regarding economic, health, and social sustainability (SMIRL 1). Economically, insect farming has assisted non-land owners to acquire economic benefits as they participate in the agriculture economy (Gizmodo). Also, the massive push that the government has to impact on the global food system may be relieved, as insect farmers require little subsidies as a local food movement.
The Role of Insects in Providing Nutritional Meals
Reports explain that white settlers who initially lived in 19th centuries within the Great Salt Lake region we sole dependent on insects for food (Gizmodo). The reason behind this was due to the scarcity of food and imperfect knowledge of farming. Also, in the current era. Katydid people make protein nutritious cakes using crickets. It is crucial understanding that not everyone can afford a healthy nutritional meal. Moreover, nutritional-dense food plays the most significant role in a good healthy life of an individual (SMIRL 3). An essential thing to understand is that insects can be a stepping-stone for low-income earners to secure a healthy meal despite the implication that poor people are mostly entitled to highly processed food that causes illness (Gizmodo). Insects diets are in many parts of the world, and they are eventually safe and sustainable something that has been lacking in the local production of food (Gizmodo). One will wonder why we believe that insects are safe and sustainable; the reality is that there are over trillions of bugs in the world with a high birth rate. This means that exhaustion of insects is almost next to impossible. Also, the sustainability part is that the nutritional value of bugs is capable of assisting a human just like any other animal nutritional composition (Gizmodo). Research has proven that insect consumption is very safe if well managed and hygiene is maintained. In case insects are harmless to eat I guess the old feeders could have already died years ago and named extinct but they survived confirming the safety.
Insects as a Solution for a Sustainable and Accessible Food System
According to the Food Policy Council (FPC), there has been a lot of hope to come up with a sustainable and accessible food system (SMIRL 3). The FPC has attempted to create awareness through education on the problems facing low-income earners on the accessibility of food. Despite the current effects of poisoning of Chapulines from Mexicans, insects are less toxic as they are farmed without the use of chemicals as preferably influenced by the global food system thus can cause few illnesses. Critically thinking it is essential to building confidence in the consumption of insects to reduce the level of strain in the current food programs. The idea of insect farming can eventually be cheap and sustainable requiring little space as compared to animal agriculture that is expensive and demands vast lands and colossal care. Correspondingly, this will assist in the reduction of the reasonable idea that a good food market can only be based on massive farms such as that in Toronto. In states such as Thailand, the growing demand for insects eating and farming is a fundamental a reality that insects can genuinely act as both economic and food system benefactor.
Insect Farming and Environmental Conservation
Insect rearing could be the solution towards the local food movement goals on the control of the ecological impacts due to chemical use. Approving insects as alternative food will also have positive implications towards the safekeeping of the environment and be a relief to the ordinary citizen as few burdens will be placed in the name of industrialized agriculture (SMIRL 1). Daniella Martins translates her facts with a solution that bug eating might be of interests to the current environmental issues. There is no chemical use during the farming of insects thus little biodegradation (Gizmodo). Contrary to animal farming that releases toxins into the ozone, insect rearing has less harm to the environment and the surrounding. The only danger that could arise is through imbalance harvesting of insects (Gizmodo). This can lead to the destruction of the regular food chain, however; through proper management, it can control. Consumption of insects will reduce the spraying of chemicals in farms as a way to keep away bugs and locusts. Reasons being, already whatever is infesting your farm can be biologically removed from the farm rather than the used of sprays.
Conclusion
Summing up, it might sound creepy feeding on bugs, but either way, insects might be of great importance to the economy we are living. Insects are essential nutritionally and have been proven a very cheap way to secure an exceptionally healthy meal. However, it is critical to ensure that insects are well kept to avoid illnesses due to poor packaging. Insect rearing may be an upcoming way of life in the local food marketing as it is cheap to start farming with the idea that it requires little space. This trend of food will significantly assist in securing a safe and sustainable life for citizens in many parts of the economy. We might actively deny that insects are not always that creepy, but this will always remain as the truth. The only suggestion that I might have is ‘have a bite; it might not hurt.’
Works Cited
Gizmodo. Should you really start eating insects? 26 May 2013. Electronic. 8 March 2018.
SMIRL, ELLEN. " LOCAL FOOD AND LOW-INCOME REALITIES." SOCIAL JUSTICE DEFICITS IN THE LOCAL FOOD MOVEMENT (2011): 1-5. Document.
Yagelski, R. P. Writing: Ten Core Concepts. Nelson Education, 2016.
