# 5 Reasons Why Eating Insects Can Help Combat Climate Change

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/environment/87893-5-reasons-why-eating-insects-can-help-combat-climate-change
- Published: 2025-08-03T09:11:00+07:00
- Author: The World Economic Forum

We often associate our primary protein sources with animals and plants, such as 
meat, dairy, eggs, tofu, beans, and nuts. However, there’s an overlooked, sustainable,
and highly nutritious protein source that has yet to gain widespread popularity:
insects.

 * Our consumption of animal protein is the source of greenhouses gas and climate
   change.
 * Insects are an overlooked source of protein and a way to battle climate change.
 * The consumption of insects can offset climate change in many ways.

### Before you say “yuck,” hear us out

Many of us are not used to considering insects as a food source. However, the nutritional
differences between various protein sources are relatively minor. For example, while
plant proteins lack certain essential amino acids found in animal proteins, the 
primary distinctions between insect protein and other protein sources lie mainly
in cultural perceptions and environmental factors.

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Insects are highly efficient to farm, requiring significantly less land, water, 
and feed compared to traditional livestock. Additionally, they produce fewer greenhouse
gas emissions, making them a more sustainable option for addressing the growing 
global demand for protein. As the world faces challenges like climate change and
food insecurity, incorporating insects into our diets could play a vital role in
creating a more sustainable food system. While it may take time for cultural norms
to shift, increasing awareness of the environmental and nutritional benefits of 
insect consumption could help pave the way for broader acceptance.

Mainly, we are accustomed to regarding insects as beneath our palate.

But consider five reasons why insects are an excellent alternative source of protein
and significantly reduce our carbon footprint.

### Edible insects are capable of producing comparable amounts of high-quality protein to that of traditional livestock.

A recent study showed that insects offer between [9.96 and 35.2 grams of protein per 100 grams, compared with between 16.8 and 20.6 grams for meat.](https://www.runtastic.com/blog/en/eating-insects-for-protein/)

Not all insect proteins are created equal. Crickets, certain ant species, and mealworms
stand out as protein-packed and calorie-dense options in the world of edible insects.
A simple way to incorporate insect protein into your diet is by using cricket protein
powder as a substitute for your regular protein supplement.

### Insects demand significantly less maintenance and resources compared to traditional livestock.

The argument that insects are a good source of protein is compounded by the fact
that their production uses [considerably less resources](https://www.runtastic.com/blog/en/eating-insects-for-protein/)(
less land, less feed, less water, less transport fuel and less human labor) than
animal livestock while possessing a much smaller carbon footprint.

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While plants themselves do not emit greenhouse gases, their cultivation and processing
involve activities such as land and machinery use, water consumption, manufacturing,
processing, and transportation—all of which contribute to carbon emissions.

It’s critical to consider how to lower our carbon footprint and make a difference
in climate change through our understanding of how food goes from the source to 
our mouths.

### We’re starting to run low on protein supplies.

By 2050, the earth will have nearly [10 billion people](https://www.wri.org/insights/how-sustainably-feed-10-billion-people-2050-21-charts).
The demand for protein will exceed our ability to procure it.

That’s a scary thought. Protein is the workhorse of the human cell. Without it, 
the body cannot produce some of the essential amino acids we need to live.

For our long-term survival, we’re going to need to increase our food output and 
decrease our carbon emissions at the same time.

The answer requires real innovation about food production and what we think about
food.

This article is part of the The Davos Agenda

[Source link ](https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/02/how-insects-positively-impact-climate-change/)