How many grasshoppers in a pound

FT: You grow several species of grasshoppers. Why the variety? How do they differ? DT: We worked with several species of grasshoppers when we were developing the ability to farm because we wanted to increase our chances of cracking the code to growing them.

We have been successful with three species so far, reducing egg incubation periods from months to weeks. Other advantages of working with several species are:. The opportunity to grow them in different locations around the globe as each species grows in different territories. Market demand is different in different markets and populations, especially where grasshoppers are eaten whole.

Some like them green, others like brown, and we can provide all types. How does your company hope to overcome this obstacle? However, as grasshoppers are the most widely eaten insect in the world, they enjoy high demand globally. Even in the U. We believe the use of insects as an ingredient is also the way to go when alternatives are sacred to consumers. Finally, we believe that athletes will be the early adopters as grasshopper protein provides them with a better product to improve their performance.

FT: The methods your company use are considered humane. Can you give a brief overview of your farming and harvest methods? DT: Hargol FoodTech is following the recommendations of the EU and Netherland government for humane methods to harvest insects, limiting harm to animals to the minimum possible.

Since grasshoppers are cold blooded, we reduce the temperature until they fall asleep and then we freeze them. The combination of cold-blooded creatures and small body size results in quick harvest and minimal harm to the animal. FT: You have big plans for production in Africa. What are your goals in the continent? DT: Indeed Africa is on our agenda in the long term. The fiber in grasshoppers helps you feel full and digest well.

Compare that to raising a cow. It takes around 16 pounds of grain and thousands of gallons of water to get just one pound of beef.

In some countries around the world, people have no problem with the idea of eating grasshoppers. Many grasshopper-catchers do their work illegally or in secret.

In Kampala, Uganda, the light-and-barrel traps are often against city safety rules. The lights can cause dangerous electrical problems. Mexico is another country where people love grasshoppers. Their secret hunts can damage crops. If the farmers and grasshopper hunters worked together, things might turn out much better for everyone.

The short-tailed shrew is a ravenous predator that is found throughout Illinois. Although it is seldom seen, it is common. There can be as many as 50 shrews living on one acre of land. In woodlands in Illinois, there are commonly 10 to 20 shrews per acre. They are less common in grassy areas. Few animals are as hungry as a shrew. Solve the following problems so you can picture how much a shrew really eats. If a shrew weighs 19 grams and a grasshopper weighs 3 grams, how many grasshoppers must a shrew kill and eat in one day?

Count each grasshopper killed in a day. If only part of a grasshopper needs to be eaten, count the whole grasshopper. If three shrews live in your garden, how many grasshoppers can they eat in one growing season?