And in lab studies, insects have shown themselves to be rich in protein, roughly equivalent, pound for pound, to lean ground beef.

Insects are chock-full of vitamins and minerals. Insects are also abundant: there are more than 350,00 species of beetles alone. In addition, they are much more environmentally friendly to raise than either cattle or pigs.

So why doesn’t everyone eat bugs?

Vincent M. Holt asked that very question more than a hundred years ago. As an Englishman, Holt was undoubtedly moved after a series of crop failures and subsequent food shortages ravaged Ireland. Published in 1885, his persuasive book Why Not Eat Insects? argued that people would be better off if they stopped dining on beef, chicken,