Hello I keep seeing documentaries explaining that in the future in order to feed everyone more people will be eating insects, I hope they are wrong, but if it is true are there any ways to invest in this theme?

Eoin Treacy's view

Thank you for this question which appears to have made its way into the public arena for some reason. Interestingly my daughter assured me last night that we would all be eating insects in the future, at least according the Time for Kids she had just read at school. Personally I regard that as a pretty dystopian way of thinking about the future. I understand the argument that insects are easier to raise, require less water, grow faster and are packed with protein. However wouldn’t it be better if we just ate less meat to begin with? In my opinion the most compelling bullish case for farming insects is as food for other animals or fish.
 
Much of this type of thinking results from linear trend extrapolation of population growth. However the global birth rate has already peaked. That means the bulk of population growth is now provided by lower infant mortality rates and people living longer. If you take those two factors into account the chances are the global population will begin to decline in about 40 years. 

Between now and then Asia and particularly Africa represent where the majority of population growth is likely to occur. News today about the roll out of the first malaria vaccine in Africa as well as encouraging signs from the potential for Artemisia to represent a cure will aid population growth.

We don’t have to worry about whether to eat bugs in North America or Europe. The broader question is how to feed the billions of additional people which will be living in Africa over the next half century. The only way to achieve that goal, in even close to a sustainable manner, is economic growth and improving standards of governance. 

I’m afraid I could not find any companies in the insect farming sector.