One of the lesser-known sectors of the food industry is the insect protein sector. In spite of this sector’s seemingly nascent nature, it was valued at over $153 million in the year 2021 and is slated to grow to an exponential $856 million by 2029, expecting a consistent growth rate of over 24.1 percent. This, of course begs the question: what is insect protein?
The consumption of insects is known as entomophagy. In spite of its seeming anonymity in the western world, over 2 billion people are estimated to consume insect protein on a regular basis in Asia, South America, and Africa. Over 1,900 species of insects are consumed by humans worldwide, although the most common are the house cricket, giant water bug, and the water beetle.