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REPORTER: One bag of larvae please! In some parts of the world, these little critters, which come from the palm weevil beetle are the snack of choice.
INSECT CONSUMER, STEVE ABADA: "They nourish the body, they are not too fatty but have lots of good ingredients. if you eat these all the time, you will rarely get sick."
REPORTER: Now, a new report by the United Nations says eating insects like the beetle could be the answer to fighting world hunger. Insects contain the same amount of protein and minerals as other meats and healthy fats that doctors recommend as part of a balanced diet. They're also great for local economies. In the forests around the village of Dzeng, it's grasshopper season and women are busy collecting the jumpy insects, which they will sell at market. While they have been doing this for many years, population growth and forest fires have led to some species becoming virtually extinct. Afton Halloran works with the Edible Insects program run by the U.N. She says insect breeding and conservation is vital to boosting global food security.
AFTON HALLORAN, CONSULTANT FOR FAO EDIBLE INSECTS PROGRAM: "Insects have a huge potential for both feed and food. We are already seeing developments in terms of using insects as animal feed. and also being incorporated onto menus and processed foods. While we won't be seeing insects on the table for Sunday lunch any time within the next decade, we know that insects have a huge potential, and we hope that slowly but surely this can be realized."
REPORTER: Authors of the new report say barriers to enjoying insect dishes are psychological - in a blind test carried out by researchers, nine out of 10 people preferred meatballs made from meat and mealworms to those made entirely of meat.
