ID :
171776
Wed, 03/30/2011 - 07:32
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http://m.oananews.org//node/171776
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Edible insects as food and nutrition security
VIENTIANE,MARCH 29 (KPL) - Representatives of Ministries of Planning and Investment, Agriculture and Forestry, Food and Agriculture Organisation, Khon Kaen University (Thailand) were present at a seminar to discuss and learn activities of a nutritional security project Edible Insects for Food and Nutrition Security in Vientiane.
They also learned the achievements and future activities of the two-year project on sustainable insect farming and harvesting for better nutrition, improved food security and household income generation. The project was launched in May 2010 by the FAO.
The project focuses on strengthening the existing role of insects as complementary food in the Lao diet, on enhancing the sustainability, safety, and efficiency of collection, preparation, post-harvesting processing and consumption of insects as well as on introducing insect farming.
“The first time in Lao PDR that a gathering takes place to study the role of insects as food scientifically. Insect as food can help combat malnutrition,” said FAO Representative Serge Veriau. “Insects as food can reduce the terrific demand of energy for producing food for billions of people”.
“In the future, the Lao PDR will be a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The Lao PDR currently takes the initiative in the insects’ trade,” said Mr. Serge.
“Last November, when the coordinating Committee for Asia of the Codex Alimentarius met in Indonesia, the Lao delegation proposed an international standard for edible crickets and related products,” said Mr. Serge.
“The proposal was very well received by several countries. In November 2010, when the committee will meet again in Japan, the road will be open towards trading edible crickets in the region, which represents 60% of the world population but which also counts 578 million people as suffering from hunger,” added Mr. Serge.
They also learned the achievements and future activities of the two-year project on sustainable insect farming and harvesting for better nutrition, improved food security and household income generation. The project was launched in May 2010 by the FAO.
The project focuses on strengthening the existing role of insects as complementary food in the Lao diet, on enhancing the sustainability, safety, and efficiency of collection, preparation, post-harvesting processing and consumption of insects as well as on introducing insect farming.
“The first time in Lao PDR that a gathering takes place to study the role of insects as food scientifically. Insect as food can help combat malnutrition,” said FAO Representative Serge Veriau. “Insects as food can reduce the terrific demand of energy for producing food for billions of people”.
“In the future, the Lao PDR will be a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The Lao PDR currently takes the initiative in the insects’ trade,” said Mr. Serge.
“Last November, when the coordinating Committee for Asia of the Codex Alimentarius met in Indonesia, the Lao delegation proposed an international standard for edible crickets and related products,” said Mr. Serge.
“The proposal was very well received by several countries. In November 2010, when the committee will meet again in Japan, the road will be open towards trading edible crickets in the region, which represents 60% of the world population but which also counts 578 million people as suffering from hunger,” added Mr. Serge.
