Consider eating insects to improve your health and the planet’s sustainability
ROSEBANK – Zoologist and owner of edible insect business Joanne Techow discusses the benefits of eating insects.
Are you trying to eat healthily and reduce your environmental footprint? Consider living the life of the quirky Timon and Pumbaa and try some insects.
Zoologist and owner of edible insects business Joanne Techow hosted a discussion about the benefits of entomophagy (eating insects) at the Pantry Market at Keyes Art Mile in Rosebank on 31 August.
Techow has researched how to farm insects and volunteered at the Endangered Wildlife Trust before opening her business Ensekta.
“My objective it to help people realise the goodness of insects so people can create a more sustainable future,” said Techow.
She said she has moved from having to flinch at her first try of insect foods to it now having the wow factor.
“Eating insects is a global phenomenon, with millions of people already eating insects and realising they are nutritious and environmentally friendly,” said Techow.
She compared 30 grams of cricket to 30 grams of beef on a number of levels. She said that beef uses 38 times more land, 23 times more water, emits much more greenhouse gases, and requires 12 times the amount of food than crickets.
Techow said crickets emit 2g greenhouse gases in comparison to cows which emit 2 850g. She added that nutritional value including iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, omega 3 and 6, vitamin B and healthy fats can be found in crickets.
Examples of food containing insects include quail egg with black ants, kiwi and mealworms, cricket stir-fry and insect powder (which can be used for smoothies and baked goods).
Techow said that interestingly, insects take on the flavour of the food they are fed.
She warned community members to avoid harvesting insects from their gardens since they will likely have pesticides and insecticides on them. She also advised people to avoid eating brightly coloured insects.
Some examples of insects which Techow has cooked with include mopani worms, termites, maggots, flies, silkworms and meal worms.
Insects can be cooked either through boiling, roasting or frying.
Community members at the talk were offered granola with meal worms among other things.
Curator of the market Roberta Coci said, “Our objective is to become a sustainable market and educate others about sustainability.”
Find Techow’s business on Facebook @Enseckta to find out more.
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