A NEW roadmap has been launched to help Australia benefit from the potentially billion-dollar edible insect industry.
Launched today, the Edible insects: A roadmap for the strategic growth of an emerging Australian industry, lays out a plan for the emerging industry including the challenges, opportunities, cultural values, sustainability, and health outcomes of the edible insect industry in Australia.
Co-funded by CSIRO and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Council on Australia Latin America Relations, the roadmap provides a framework within Australia for First Nations initiatives, start-ups, insect businesses, researchers, policy makers, and community members interested in engaging with the industry.
CSIRO researcher and report co-author Rocio Ponce Reyes said the global edible insect industry was growing fast.
"The worldwide edible insect market is expected to reach A$1.4 billion in value by 2023," she said.
"Europe and the United States of America lead the western world market, with more than 400 edible-insect-related businesses in operation.
"Insects have high-value nutritional profiles, and are rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, folic acid and vitamins B12, C and E.
"They are also complementary to our existing diets because they are a healthy, environmentally friendly, and a rich source of alternative proteins."
More than 2100 insect species are already being eaten by two billion people from 130 countries, including 60 native insect species traditionally consumed by First Nations Peoples in Australia.
Iconic Australian species include witjuti (also known as witchetty) grubs, bogong moths, honey pot ants and green tree ants.
CSIRO entomologist and report co-author Bryan Lessard said the report highlighted the importance of supporting and promoting First Nations-led enterprises.
"The roadmap draws on the expertise of Australian and international scientists, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, insect farmers, food processing industry leaders and chefs, to set out the challenges and opportunities presented by one of the world's richest sources of protein and other micronutrients," he said.
"Australia has a high diversity of native insects.
"Working with First Nations enterprises, many species have the potential to be sustainably harvested or grown in low impact farms, to be turned into new and delicious Australian foods for us and our pets.
"Commercial insect farming is considered to have a low environmental footprint, requiring minimal feed, water, energy, and land resources - factors of importance to the modern health and ethically-conscious consumer."
The roadmap also sets out challenges to overcome, including scalability, consumer appetite, and research opportunities, and provides options to tackle them, including new products, innovations to farming and collaboration.
CSIRO has developed the roadmap as part of a broader piece of research investigating alternative protein sources, through its developing Future Protein Mission.
It is part of the CSIRO Missions program launched last year, focusing on large scale research programs aimed at solving some of our greatest challenges, collaboratively with government, academia, industry and community.
CSIRO's Future Protein lead professor Michelle Colgrave said the mission was focused on helping Australia capture high-growth global protein markets to grow Australia's protein industry by $10b across five years, in line with the Australian government's goal to lift farmgate output to $100b by 2030.
"With the global population set to reach 9.7b by 2050, we will need to meet this demand for sustainable protein production by exploring diversified sources," she said.
"Alternative protein industries can play an important role in Australia, contributing to regional and national prosperity.
"At CSIRO, we're researching plant-based protein, traditional protein sources, and emerging protein industries including edible insects."
The roadmap is available in English and Spanish, allowing connections between Australia and Latin America, such as Mexico, where eating insects is more widespread.
It provides guidance for Spanish-speaking countries on how to develop their local industries.
COALAR-DFAT board member Natalie Collard said edible insect research was highly relevant in today's world in terms of affordable, accessible and sustainable protein sources.
"It has the potential to provide exciting trade opportunities and could lead to valuable economic outcomes," she said.
Insect Protein Association of Australia chair Olympia Yarger, said the roadmap provided meaningful steps forward for the guidance of new research and investment priorities that would enable insects to become a more sustainable and high-value part of the modern Australian diet.
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