While the consumption of insects has gained renewed attention recently, it is in fact nothing new. As eclectic omnivores, it’s likely that humans have consumed insects, the most abundant terrestrial life form excluding bacteria, for an exceedingly long time. Today, 80% of the world still eats over 1,600 species of insects, from Jing Leed in Thailand to Escamoles in Mexico to Casu Marzu in Italy.

Insects are exceptionally nutritious. They are high in protein and low in saturated fats and sugars. They are a complete protein, containing all the essential amino acids, and are also high in micronutrients such as iron, calcium and B-vitamins. Crickets, for example, contain substantially more iron than beef.

Insects have marginal environmental impact. They produce virtually no methane, reproduce extremely quickly, and require minimal feed, water and space.It is estimated that crickets are 20x more efficient to raise for protein than cattle.

We need a new source of protein, one that can sustain the world into the future. Earth’s population is growing by 75 million people each year. To meet the demands of this immense growth, we’ll have to triple our food production. Conventional livestock is simply not a sustainable food source, on the whole producing more greenhouse gases than the entire transport sector. The amount of water required to produce just one pound of steak equals that consumed by a family of four for a full year.

At Exo, we believe that insects are one of the solutions to humanity’s protein dilemma. They are as natural to eat as fruits and vegetables and are a more complete form of protein than many livestock alternatives. Insects can provide us, ethically and sustainably, with the nutrients that our bodies require.