Slidutter
Lessons

Can Insects Feed the Future?

AdvancedFood & Cooking

Can Insects Feed the Future?

A small answer to a big problem?

1 / 8

Model script

Good afternoon, everyone. The world's population keeps growing, and producing enough protein is becoming a serious challenge. Today, I'd like to talk about a surprising possible answer: eating insects.

Your recording

Say this slide out loud, then listen to yourself.

Recordings stay on this device and disappear when you leave the page.

Useful phrases

  • keeps growing

    Continues to get bigger.

  • a surprising possible answer

    An unexpected solution that might work.

Full script

Read the whole talk.

All slides in one place. Read it through once, then practice slide by slide.

  1. 01Can Insects Feed the Future?

    Good afternoon, everyone. The world's population keeps growing, and producing enough protein is becoming a serious challenge. Today, I'd like to talk about a surprising possible answer: eating insects.

  2. 02Not as Strange as It Sounds

    For many of us, this sounds strange. But according to the United Nations, at least two billion people already eat insects as part of their normal diet, and more than one thousand nine hundred species are eaten around the world.

    Source: FAO, "Edible insects: Future prospects for food and feed security" (2013)

  3. 03Efficient Food

    The main advantage is efficiency. According to the same report, insects can turn about two kilograms of feed into one kilogram of body weight on average, while cattle need about eight.

    Source: FAO, "Edible insects: Future prospects for food and feed security" (2013)

  4. 04Good for Us, Too

    Insects can also be nutritious. Many kinds are rich in protein and contain healthy fats and minerals, similar to meat or fish.

  5. 05The "Yuck" Problem

    So why don't more people eat them? The biggest barrier is not science, but feelings. In many cultures, the idea of eating insects simply makes people say "yuck."

  6. 06Making Insects Easier to Accept

    One way to deal with this is to hide the insects. Some companies grind them into flour and use it in pasta, bread, or protein bars, so people don't see the insect at all.

  7. 07Rules Are Changing

    Governments are also paying attention. In 2021, the European Union approved dried yellow mealworms as a safe food for the first time.

    Source: European Commission, approval of dried yellow mealworm as a novel food (2021)

  8. 08Conclusion

    In conclusion, insects won't solve the world's food problems alone. But they are an efficient, nutritious option that deserves a place on our menu. Maybe one day, a cricket snack will seem completely normal. Thank you.

Cover photo by ChristophMeinersmann on Pixabay