Farm 432 • Hacker News Board

Re: Farm 432

#41

Post by bullfightonmars » Thu, Jan 08, 2015, 10:02 PM UTC

alextgordon wrote: post #24

warble wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of what we eat (steaks, chicken nuggetts, hamburger, bacon) is dissasociated with the source form of the meat. This should probably be the inroad. If people get used to the idea that they're ingesting insects anyhow, then maybe the rest gets easier? I dunno..

What is the point of eating insects, though? Why not just eat lentils?

I think the proposed value here is in the quality and quantity of protein provided

Boiled Lentils are around 9% protein - http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/4783?qlookup=16070&ma...

Where according to this thesis project presentation grubs are 42% protein.

Re: Farm 432

#42

Post by sremani » Thu, Jan 08, 2015, 10:04 PM UTC

The impending insect protein era, for some reason reminds me of Peak-oil. Unless there is some marketing genius that makes eating insects sexy and drinking them cool, we will not usher into that era.

Re: Farm 432

#43

Post by rndn » Thu, Jan 08, 2015, 10:14 PM UTC

suvelx wrote: post #19

What about taste? While bugs are a great source of protein, we don't eat foods primarily based on nutrition, we eat food based on taste. I know Huhu or Witchetty grubs taste similar to peanut butter. And while peanut butter is nice and all, I want me some rich (but sustainable) beefy taste.

https://edibug.wordpress.com/list-of-edible-insects/

There are a couple of bugs listed, I couldn't find anything about beefy tastes though. Perhaps, it can be achieved with artificial flavors?

Re: Farm 432

#44

Post by bsder » Thu, Jan 08, 2015, 10:17 PM UTC

sremani wrote: post #42

The impending insect protein era, for some reason reminds me of Peak-oil. Unless there is some marketing genius that makes eating insects sexy and drinking them cool, we will not usher into that era.

Oh, please, foraging for plants around cities has become trendy among the foodies.

A little marketing, a famous chef, and presto instant delicacy.

Re: Farm 432

#45

Post by lbotos » Thu, Jan 08, 2015, 10:29 PM UTC

warble wrote: post #3

I talked to my kids about eating insects the other day with the expected results in the form of 'ew' and such. We've spent so much time in modern society associating insects with disease it's hard to dissassociate. For some reason shrimp which are essentially bugs are no problem because (I think) they come from the ocean, so there's an obvious mental line that can dissassociate them from other bugs. This is a great i…

These guys are working on cricket bars as a protein source:

https://www.exoprotein.com/

(No affiliation, they were a few desks over at a coworking space)

Re: Farm 432

#46

Post by alextgordon » Thu, Jan 08, 2015, 10:42 PM UTC

bullfightonmars wrote: post #41

alextgordon wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is the point of eating insects, though? Why not just eat lentils?

I think the proposed value here is in the quality and quantity of protein provided Boiled Lentils are around 9% protein - http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/4783?qlookup=16070&ma... Where according to this thesis project presentation grubs are 42% protein.

I was puzzling over how 25% protein could turn into 9% protein, but then I realised: that boiled number is including 70% water. Obviously there is no protein in water.

If you ignore the water, it's 29% protein. Alternatively, 25g/100kcal.

Re: Farm 432

#47

Post by code_duck » Thu, Jan 08, 2015, 10:43 PM UTC

I love that this is being discussed. I've often spoken to friends of the cultural cognitive dissonance Americans exhibit in being repulsed by eating terrestrial bugs, but loving shrimp, crab and lobster. Many Americans never see a whole shrimp and don't even realize that they have a bunch of antennae, legs, a head and would be considered completely horrifying to eat if they lived on land. Eating insects such as crickets is quite common in Mexico. Personally, I will stick to kidney beans and rice.

Re: Farm 432

#48

Post by fargolime » Thu, Jan 08, 2015, 10:48 PM UTC

With fish stocks and aquifers fast depleting, it seems inevitable that it'll become normal for citizens of the developed world to dine on bugs.

Re: Farm 432

#49

Post by fastball » Thu, Jan 08, 2015, 10:52 PM UTC

udev wrote: post #25

Reminds me of the movie Snowpiercer, where there is a scene with an industrial size device that creates protein bars from insects.

Specifically some type of cockroach, no?

Re: Farm 432

#50

Post by fastball » Thu, Jan 08, 2015, 10:54 PM UTC

mmanfrin wrote: post #27

volker48 wrote: post #22

Why not just let the animals pasture and eat grass instead of feeding them grain? Factory farms are the big problem.

Pasture-raised beef still uses an obscene amount of water compared to every other protein we eat , by a very large margin.

Pardon my possible ignorance, but shouldn't all water consumed in the process be recycled when the cows + humans urinate? Water doesn't just disappear.