The 07/27/2016
Entomophagy, or the eating of insects, has been an integral part of a diet in some civilizations. The consumption of insects affects nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide. Today, scientists are calling out to us that we may soon be drinking cockroach milk.
Cockroach Milk, or cockroach milk
It was while studying a certain breed of cockroach, called Diploptera punctate, that researchers discovered a protein in their gut. It would be three times higher than that of cow’s milk. Therefore, it would have three times more impact on our body. Usually cockroaches do not produce milk but surprisingly this breed produces an energizing liquid to nourish its offspring.
Researchers have therefore perhaps found the key to feeding as many people as possible on earth, using the natural resources it provides us. This hypothesis would be a real solution for populations suffering from malnutrition.
The goal is to reproduce this protein
The goal of researchers at the Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine in India is to replicate the milk protein crystals produced by cockroaches in their lab.
According to Sanchari Banerjee, a study researcher, “ they have proteins, fats and sugars “. He pursues : ” if you look into the protein sequences they have all the essential amino acids “. The goal is to get yeast to produce these protein crystals in large quantities. According to Subramanian Ramaswamy, lead researcher, it could be “ a fantastic protein supplement “.
Read also: Insects on our plates
