Sofia, Bulgaria: In view of the co-chair of the Association of Insect Producers in Bulgaria – AIPB – Kremena Dervenkova, the European country holds the potential to become the leading producer of insect products in the region of Central and Eastern Europe. Dervenkova made the remarks during a press conference at BTA’s National Press Club yesterday, May 20, 2022.
The Association underscored that this is a new industry for which a suitable legislative and administrative structure in order for it to grow and develop. AIPB officials add that among these, so far, no regulation has been either introduced or adopted by the European Union in this regard in Bulgaria.
Meanwhile, the co-chair of the Association – Anatoli Tsenov, further notified that the EU implied measures for the production of the alternative proteins from the house crickets, black soldier flies, silkworms, migratory grasshoppers, mealworms and houseflies.
Krastanov further states that the food base which is utilized in the production of insects includes by-products of the food industry such as – wheat bran, brewer’s yeast and clean water.
He then highlights that insects are produced with the motive to further yield produce protein flour, oil and organic fertilizer – frass, and are also used in candy, bars as well as bread.
Meanwhile, As per the data shared by the United Nations, every year, at least 2 billion people consume insects on a daily basis; if calculated in percentage, it is 80%. But while more than 1,000 species are eaten around the globe, they hardly feature in the diets of many rich countries.
Eating insects is more of a common practice in the region of Africa, according to the official data.
On the other hand, recent research has shown that the global edible insect market is set to exceed $520m (£430m) by the year 2023.