Grasshoppers: Food Security & Nutrition

Rising economies and rapid urbanization in developing countries, particularly in Asia, are creating shifts in the composition of global food demand, so it is necessary to explore new sources of food with better nutritional profile. Among the alternative food that exists are the grasshoppers, about 80 species of which are consumed worldwide. Grasshoppers are not only rich source of proteins and lipids but also some important minor component like vitamins and minerals. Apart from being nutritionally superior to most conventional meats their production results in lower emission of greenhouse gases & ammonia, risk of zoonotic infections in humans is much lower, water requirement for production is much less and have higher feed conversion ratio. Edible species of grasshopper in Belgium were identified, attempts were made for the lab rearing of meadow grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus) and fat as well as protein contents of meadow grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus) & long winged conehead (Conocephalus discolor) were investigated.