Eri Silkworm Pupae: An Alternative Source of Protein in Changing Climate

Climate change affects food security by creating a range of inconveniences including loss of crop productivity, reduction in the quality of crops, and disruption of the supply chain. Increasing demand for food with the current trend in population explosion along with increasing temperature and CO2 concentration are potential threats to ecosystem sustainability. Degradation in the quantity and quality of protein in conventional foods is also linked with climate change. Consumption of diets having adequate protein content is necessary for good health and longevity of people and protein-deficient diets are the main causes of malnutrition across the globe. However, there are many conflicts of interest regarding the best choice of the source of protein. Conventionally, people rely on both plant and animal sources for dietary proteins. Plant-based products are more sustainable sources of protein as processes for obtaining animal-based products emit more greenhouse gases than those for plant-based products. Nevertheless, animal-based products are better sources of essential amino acids and play a significant role in the restoration of human health. Hence a sustainable protein source is needed to fill the protein gap and combat the climatic change circumstances. Edible insects, including silkworm pupae, can be an exciting alternative food to satisfy the nutrient requirements of the ever-growing global population. Eri silkworm pupae, the by-products of eri silk industry, are considered to be very healthy insect food with high nutritional as well as therapeutic values that have been consumed traditionally as delicious food by different communities of the world. Here, we thoroughly discuss the potential and feasibility of eri silkworm pupae as an alternative protein-rich food to combat malnutrition and hunger, in the light of the current global food scenario and changing climate.