Edible Insects

National Taiwan University via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/edible-insects

Introduction

**Course Review: Edible Insects on Coursera** If you’ve ever pondered the role of insects in our food systems, the course "Edible Insects" offered on Coursera is a fascinating exploration of this unconventional yet increasingly relevant topic. Designed for both novices and those with a burgeoning interest in sustainable food systems, this course delves into the science, sociology, and practicalities of incorporating insects into our diets. ### **Course Overview** **Welcome to Edible Insects!** The course begins with a welcoming overview, emphasizing the growing public interest and policy focus on how edible insects could combat global food shortages and environmental concerns. The questions posed are provocative: Can consuming insects address global famine? What health benefits (or risks) are associated with insect consumption? This initial framework sets the stage for an engaging and thought-provoking educational journey. ### **Syllabus Breakdown** 1. **Why Do We Eat What We Eat?** This lecture serves as a philosophical springboard, challenging the students to reflect on their personal food choices and cultural influences. It lays a solid foundation for understanding why some societies embrace insect consumption while others are resistant. The introduction of Diffusion of Innovations theory is cleverly woven into discussions, providing students with a framework to understand the barriers and catalysts to adopting insect-eating habits globally. 2. **Edible Insects Around the World** Here, participants embark on a global tour of edible insects, examining traditional practices and contemporary adaptations. This section truly highlights the cultural diversity in food choices and positions insects as a staple in many diets across different regions. 3. **The Benefits (and Costs) of Edible Insects** This comprehensive lecture looks critically at the environmental, nutritional, and ethical implications of including insects in our diets. Students engage in debates, providing an interactive element that fosters critical thinking and personal reflection. This segment is particularly enlightening for those considering the sustainability of traditional animal agriculture. 4. **Insect Farming** Understanding the intricacies of insect farming is crucial in this course. Students learn the methodologies of rearing edible insects both for human consumption and animal feed. This lecture effectively addresses the socioeconomic factors involved in scaling up insect farming, which is essential knowledge for anyone interested in sustainability and agriculture. 5. **Cooking, Processing, Packaging, and Marketing** The practical aspects of bringing edible insects to market are covered in this segment, revealing a lot about consumer behavior and marketing strategies. Students learn about the processes involved in preparing insects for consumption and the legal frameworks that govern their sale, providing a well-rounded view of the industry. 6. **Other Insect Products** This lecture broadens the perspective on how insects can be utilized beyond direct human consumption. Students explore a variety of innovative applications for insects, including medicinal uses and their role in sustainable product development. 7. **Final Project** The course culminates in a final project where students can synthesize their learning. This project is an excellent opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical scenario and encourages creativity in addressing real-world challenges related to entomophagy (the practice of eating insects). ### **Conclusion and Recommendation** Overall, the "Edible Insects" course offers an insightful blend of theoretical knowledge and practical understanding. It challenges preconceived notions about food, sustainability, and innovation in our diets. The course is enriched with diverse content that promises to engage a wide range of learners, from those simply curious about the subject to professionals in the food and environmental sciences. If you're keen on exploring sustainable food alternatives, examining the cultural dynamics of food, or learning about the future of agriculture, this course is undoubtedly worth enrolling in. Not only does it expand your knowledge base, but it also encourages active participation in an increasingly relevant discussion about food security and ecological sustainability. Dive into the world of edible insects; who knows? You might discover a new perspective on what’s for dinner!

Syllabus

Welcome to Edible Insects!

Hello, everyone! Welcome to Edible Insects! This English language course covers the science and sociology of insects as food and feed. Increasing media, investment, and public policy attention has been given over the years to the role insects may play in the future of food. Can eating insects really save the world from famine and environmental destruction? Are there health costs or benefits to adding insects to the diet? Will all people accept insects as food? Can we feed them to livestock? Should we be promoting edible insects at all, and if so, how best do we do it? What species will we eat and how shall we raise them? This class examines all aspects of edible insects, with students taught a broad but thorough overview of the field and asked to consider questions in class about what role they think insects will play in their own food futures, and why they think this way.

Why do we eat what we eat?

This lecture has students think deeply about what influences our ideas of “food,” challenging their previously held assumptions. Why do we eat some animals and not others? Why some parts of animals and not others? We will then introduce the concept of eating insects specifically, and a basic overview of Diffusion of Innovations theory, which will be applied throughout the course when discussing why insect eating has or has not been adopted in different parts of the world.

Edible Insects Around the World

This lecture provides a broad overview of traditional and modern edible insects from around the world, and how these are changing with time.

The Benefits (and Costs) of Edible Insects

In this lecture, students will learn and analyze the environmentalist argument in favor of eating insect protein, and debate the ethical issues of insect consumption. Students will also learn about the nutrition and safety of edible insects. By the end, students should be able to make a fact-based decision on whether eating insects is acceptable for them, and justify their choice.

Insect Farming

This lecture broadly covers techniques for rearing some of the most commonly farmed edible insects, both for human food and as animal feed, and the socioeconomic reasons why farming technology is so important.

Cooking, Processing, Packaging, and Marketing

This lecture looks at post-production aspects of edible insects. How are insects prepared, cooked, processed, and packaged? Who are the target market for edible insects, and what are the best marketing strategies to reach them? Finally, the lecture looks at the legal aspects of edible insects.

Other Insect Products

This lecture covers insect products outside of directly eating insects as food. This includes both edible and inedible insect products, insect services, and insects as medicine. By the end, students will appreciate the diverse roles insects play in human industry.

Final Project