Australian_Science_Illustrated_Issue_52_2017

GLOBAL WARMING

(EMISSIONS CONVERTED INTO CO 2 PER KG

OF EDIBLE PROTEIN PRODUCED)

CRICKETS ARE:

2 TIMES

BETTER

THAN CHICKS

4 TIMES

BETTER

THAN PIGS

12 TIMES

BETTER

THAN COWS

... AT CONVERTING

PLANT PROTEIN

INTO MEAT PROTEIN.

LAND USE

(M^2 PER KG OF PROTEIN)

200 KG

300 M^2

150

250

200

100

150

100

50

50

0

0

Insects are protein machines

We eat this much

of the animal:

Domestic animals are

resource-intensive

Pigs, chicks, and cattle consume lots of

feed and water as they grow, but only

about 50% of each animal is

edible. Insects, however, are

magnificent protein

factories.

According to the UN, agriculture accounts for

70 % of the world's water consumption, and this

is very much due to meat production, as the

majority of the water is used for growing the feed

consumed by animals. An average person drinks

three litres of water per day, but the food she

consumes has "cost" 2,000-5,000 litres of water.

WATER CONSUMPTION

(L OF WATER PER G OF PROTEIN):

QUANTITY OF FEED

(KG OF FEED PER KG OF LIVING ANIMAL):

CHICKEN CHICKEN

PIG

COW

CRICKET

PIG

MEALWORM

CHICKEN

PIG

COW

CRICKET

COW

34 L 2.5 KG

5 KG

10 KG

1.7 KG

57 L

23 L

55 %

55 %

40 %

80 %

112 L

MYRLEEN PEARSON/ALAMY & SHUTTERSTOCK

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