Let’s prepare now so farming insects as food is environmentally friendly, say scientists

As whole-roasted crickets gain traction as a protein-rich snack and restaurants experiment with mealworms on the menu, there’s still “an overwhelming lack of knowledge” concerning the ecological sustainability of the emerging, multi-million-dollar insects-as-food industry, say researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. In an opinion article published January 14 in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution, they explore unanswered questions around insect rearing, safety, and environmental impacts but overall are optimistic that suppliers will rise to the challenge.