Insect farming can be a viable industry

Insect farming as a source of food protein has promising potential in the Sultanate once suitable legislation is in place to drive the growth of this industry, according to a scientist at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU).

Dr Mohammed al Ruzaiqi, a scientific researcher along with College Supervisor Dr Ali al Raisi, cited the presence of insects in the diet of many Omanis in times bygone as grounds for exploring the potential for a thriving insect-farming sector in the Sultanate.

According to the scientists, insects such as locusts and bee larvae used to be part of the diet of some Omanis in antiquity. With global food demand expected to outstrip supply amid soaring population growth, the time has come for edible and proteinrich insects to be farmed for human consumption, says Al Raisi.

An estimated 250 million people around the world are thought to lack adequate protein in their food intake. While searching for protein alternatives, researchers have found that insects can be an important and viable source of the commodity for humans.

The small but growing insect farming sector has attracted investments in countries as far afield as Canada, Holland, Italy and Switzerland, although the focus is primarily on animal feed production.

INSECTS SUCH AS LOCUSTS AND BEE LARVAE USED TO BE PART OF THE DIET OF SOME OMANIS IN ANTIQUITY

DETAILS ON P4 The Sultanate holds an important place for marine mammals due to high diversity it gets from the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean proper which are two very different environments. For this marine scientists find Oman an important location due to availability of different species like coastal dolphins and endangered humpback whales, which is typical of the Arabian Sea.