The city-state of Singapore has approved the addition of 16 types of insects as food to boost food security within its borders, diversify food sources, and decrease its dependence on imports.
“It’s really amazing to see that they have such a big list of species,” states Skye Blackburn, an Australian entomologist and food scientist. “It’s really showing that Singapore is a little bit more open than we thought they were going to be to edible insects.”
Several species of crickets, grasshoppers, mealworms, beetles, moths, and honeybees have been labelled safe and suitable for consumption. All insects must be grown on regulated farms, and each insect’s life stages must be respected. For instance, mealworms can only be eaten in the larva stage, and the American desert locusts in the adult stage. The Southeast Asian country uses only 1% of its land for agriculture. For the moment, more than 90% of its food is imported. Still, Singapore wants to meet 30% of its food needs locally by 2030. Farmers are encouraged to boost their production through innovative technologies and growing methods like “Indoor multi-story LED lighting and recirculating aquaculture systems,” according to the food agency.
