Should Hyping Edible Bugs Focus On The Experience Instead Of The Environment?
A new study shows that when ads made hedonistic marketing claims, such as "exotic" or "delicious," rather than targeting environmental interests, more people were willing to try eating insects.
Farming insects may be more sustainable than raising meat, but so far that hasn't been quite enough to convince most Westerners to eat them.
Marketing them as delicious, exquisite delicacies, though? That might do the trick.
The global demand for meat drives environmental decline, from forest depletion and soil erosion to increased water use and the release of greenhouse gases.
Insect farming is easier on the environment, says Joost Van Itterbeeck, visiting scientist at Rikkyo University in Tokyo and co-author of the book Edible Insects: Future Prospects. And, he adds, "The nutritional benefits are very obvious in terms of proteins, minerals and vitamins."
