There are many examples worldwide that show how the cultivation of insects for human consumption is possible, although most of these are on a subsistence scale, they hold knowledge of techniques and processes that could be implemented on a larger scale.
Australia:
Aborigines have been known to eat termites, grasshoppers, moths, caterpillars, beetle larvae, wasps and ants in a system whereby collecting mass individuals return greater benefits than hunting individual larger prey (Itterbeek 2012). For example the Bogong moth is one of the most prominent food sources of Aborigine tribes. The moths collect in crevices in rocks in the Australian Alpes, making the collection of large quantities relatively easy, with their high fat content a necessary component of their diet (Itterbeek 2012).
Mexico:
Lake Texcoco is where hundreds of Corixa and Corisella eggs are deposited every year. On average each year 3,900 tonnes of insect eggs are harvested from the lake. This relies on the knowledge of local people, who, bind bundles of twigs together and secure to the bottom of the lake with ropes attached to rocks. The females lay their eggs on the bundles, which can then be harvested (Itterbeek 2012).
These two case studies show how easily insects can be harvested and how there is the potential for large scale cultivation and domestication of edible insects. The main aim would be to improve the predictability and availability of these insects for cultivation (Itterbeek 2012), and working with local practices, insect farming could be available to all, from grass roots technology right up to industrial scale.
Australia:
Aborigines have been known to eat termites, grasshoppers, moths, caterpillars, beetle larvae, wasps and ants in a system whereby collecting mass individuals return greater benefits than hunting individual larger prey (Itterbeek 2012). For example the Bogong moth is one of the most prominent food sources of Aborigine tribes. The moths collect in crevices in rocks in the Australian Alpes, making the collection of large quantities relatively easy, with their high fat content a necessary component of their diet (Itterbeek 2012).
Mexico:
Lake Texcoco is where hundreds of Corixa and Corisella eggs are deposited every year. On average each year 3,900 tonnes of insect eggs are harvested from the lake. This relies on the knowledge of local people, who, bind bundles of twigs together and secure to the bottom of the lake with ropes attached to rocks. The females lay their eggs on the bundles, which can then be harvested (Itterbeek 2012).
These two case studies show how easily insects can be harvested and how there is the potential for large scale cultivation and domestication of edible insects. The main aim would be to improve the predictability and availability of these insects for cultivation (Itterbeek 2012), and working with local practices, insect farming could be available to all, from grass roots technology right up to industrial scale.