Would you eat food made of insects?

Though the idea might make your skin crawl, insects provide a rich source of protein and minerals when used in meals. They also are a more sustainable source of nutrition, requiring less resources than typical livestock. With these characteristics, they are an attractive component to integrate into diets. Insects are a regular source of food around the world, and stores in the United States like Walmart sell flour made from crickets.

If you want to test your taste buds and try a gourmet insect-based menu, check out the 2024 Swarm to Table event! This event is being put on by the UW-Madison Undergraduate Entomology Society, Slow Food UW, and MIGHTi. Stop by The Crossing (1127 University Ave, Madison, WI 53715) from 2:00-5:00 pm on Saturday, April 13th for the event.

In addition to human meals, insects can also be used for animal feed. Research is currently being conducted at MSABD regarding the use of black soldier flies as poultry feed. Dr. Richards is collaborating with Dr. Sarah Adcock in the Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences at UW-Madison, facilitating knowledge and supporting decision-making about whether to adopt the practice of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) farming for feed on small-scale poultry farms in the Midwest.

This research has positive implications regarding the nutritional quality, environmental sustainability, and economic viability of BSF-based feed. Feed is a crucial component for poultry farming, and with a recent lack of feed inputs, BSF-based feed is a potential viable option. MSABD is constantly striving to provide solutions to issues arising in the meat industry, both in Wisconsin and beyond!