Edible Insects from Coursera

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Syllabus

Welcome to Edible Insects!

Hello, everyone! Welcome to Edible Insects! This English language course covers the science and sociology of insects as food and feed. Increasing media, investment, and public policy attention has been given over the years to the role insects may play in the future of food. Can eating insects really save the world from famine and environmental destruction? Are there health costs or benefits to adding insects to the diet? Will all people accept insects as food? Can we feed them to livestock? Should we be promoting edible insects at all, and if so, how best do we do it? What species will we eat and how shall we raise them? This class examines all aspects of edible insects, with students taught a broad but thorough overview of the field and asked to consider questions in class about what role they think insects will play in their own food futures, and why they think this way.

Why do we eat what we eat?

This lecture has students think deeply about what influences our ideas of “food,” challenging their previously held assumptions. Why do we eat some animals and not others? Why some parts of animals and not others? We will then introduce the concept of eating insects specifically, and a basic overview of Diffusion of Innovations theory, which will be applied throughout the course when discussing why insect eating has or has not been adopted in different parts of the world.

Edible Insects Around the World

This lecture provides a broad overview of traditional and modern edible insects from around the world, and how these are changing with time.

The Benefits (and Costs) of Edible Insects

In this lecture, students will learn and analyze the environmentalist argument in favor of eating insect protein, and debate the ethical issues of insect consumption. Students will also learn about the nutrition and safety of edible insects. By the end, students should be able to make a fact-based decision on whether eating insects is acceptable for them, and justify their choice.

Insect Farming

This lecture broadly covers techniques for rearing some of the most commonly farmed edible insects, both for human food and as animal feed, and the socioeconomic reasons why farming technology is so important.

Cooking, Processing, Packaging, and Marketing

This lecture looks at post-production aspects of edible insects. How are insects prepared, cooked, processed, and packaged? Who are the target market for edible insects, and what are the best marketing strategies to reach them? Finally, the lecture looks at the legal aspects of edible insects.

Other Insect Products

This lecture covers insect products outside of directly eating insects as food. This includes both edible and inedible insect products, insect services, and insects as medicine. By the end, students will appreciate the diverse roles insects play in human industry.

Final Project

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides a comprehensive overview of the field of edible insects

Examines the science and sociology of insects as food and feed

Taught by Matan Shelomi, an expert in the field of edible insects

Provides a broad but thorough overview of the field

Helps students develop a nuanced understanding of the role of insects in the future of food

Encourages students to consider the ethical implications of insect consumption

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Edible Insects with these activities:

Review Your Biology Background

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Review core biology concepts you learned in high school or prior college courses to refresh your memory and strengthen your foundation for this course.

Browse courses on Biology

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Go through high school biology notes or textbooks.
Take practice quizzes or review questions online.
Attend a biology refresher course or workshop.

Review basic concepts in nutrition and entomology

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Refresh your knowledge of basic concepts in nutrition and entomology to strengthen your understanding of edible insects as a food source

Browse courses on Nutrition

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Review your notes or textbooks on the basics of nutrition
Review your notes or textbooks on the basics of entomology
Complete practice questions or exercises to test your understanding

Organize your notes and assignments

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Consolidate your course materials to enhance your learning and retention

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Review your notes from each lecture and summarize the key points
Organize your assignments into folders or a notebook
Create a study schedule and stick to it

Six other activities

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Read 'The Insect Cookbook' by Arnold Van Huis

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Review a book that summarizes the latest research on edible insects to reinforce your understanding of course materials

View The Insect Cookbook: Food for a Sustainable... on Amazon

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Acquire the book either physically or digitally and skim through the chapters
Read Chapter 2, 'Insects and Food Security'
Consider the global challenges to food security and the potential role of insects in addressing these challenges
Summarize the key points of Chapter 2 in your own words and write a short reflection on what you have learned

Identify 10 edible insects from different regions of the world

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Practice identifying edible insects to reinforce your understanding of the diversity of edible insects

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Research edible insects from different regions of the world
Create a list of 10 edible insects, including their scientific names, common names, and regions where they are consumed
Review your list and ensure that you have a good representation of insects from different regions

Follow a tutorial on how to cook an edible insect dish

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Gain hands-on experience in preparing edible insects to reinforce your understanding of edible insect cuisine

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Find a tutorial on how to cook an edible insect dish
Gather the necessary ingredients and equipment
Follow the tutorial step-by-step and cook the dish
Taste the dish and reflect on the experience

Develop a business plan for an edible insect farm

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Apply your knowledge of edible insect farming to develop a business plan, reinforcing your understanding of commercial edible insect production

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Research the market for edible insects and identify potential customer segments
Develop a business model and revenue strategy
Design an edible insect farm and outline your production processes
Create a marketing and sales plan
Write an executive summary and pitch your business plan to potential investors

Write an article about the environmental impact of edible insects

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Synthesize your understanding of the environmental impact of edible insects and communicate it effectively to a broader audience

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Research the environmental benefits and drawbacks of edible insect consumption
Organize your research into a logical outline
Write a draft of your article
Edit and revise your article for clarity and accuracy
Publish your article on a relevant platform or blog

Design a poster presentation on the benefits of edible insects

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Visually communicate the benefits of edible insects to a target audience, reinforcing your understanding of edible insect promotion

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Identify your target audience and research their interests and knowledge level
Gather data and evidence to support your claims about the benefits of edible insects
Design a visually appealing poster that effectively communicates your message
Prepare a short presentation to accompany your poster

Career center

Learners who complete Edible Insects will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Food Scientist

Food Scientists will develop the next generation of food products. Edible Insects will introduce you to the science behind edible insects and help you to understand how to develop safe and nutritious food products from insects.

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Food Writer

Food Writers communicate the latest food trends, research, and products to the public. Edible Insects can help you to stay up-to-date on the latest research on edible insects and to write engaging and informative articles about this topic.

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Food Photographer

Food Photographers take pictures of food to make it look appealing. Edible Insects can help you to learn how to take beautiful photos of insects and to showcase their unique beauty.

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Food Stylist

Food Stylists arrange food to make it look appealing for photographs or videos. Edible Insects can help you to learn how to style insects in a visually appealing way.

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Chef

Chefs prepare and cook food for customers. Edible Insects can help you to learn how to cook insects in a variety of ways and to create delicious and nutritious dishes.

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Registered Dietitian

Registered Dietitians provide nutrition counseling and guidance to individuals and groups. Edible Insects can help you to learn about the nutritional value of insects and to provide evidence-based advice to your clients.

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Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists investigate the causes of disease and injury. Edible Insects can help you to learn about the potential health risks and benefits of eating insects.

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Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientists study the environment and its impact on human health. Edible Insects can help you to learn about the environmental impact of insect farming and to develop sustainable practices.

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Entomologist

Entomologists study insects and their behavior. Edible Insects can help you to learn about the biology and ecology of edible insects and to develop sustainable practices for their farming.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers develop and implement marketing campaigns for products and services. Edible Insects can help you to learn about the marketing challenges and opportunities associated with edible insects and to develop effective marketing campaigns.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers lead sales teams and develop sales strategies. Edible Insects can help you to learn about the sales challenges and opportunities associated with edible insects and to develop effective sales strategies.

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Business Development Manager

Business Development Managers identify and develop new business opportunities. Edible Insects can help you to learn about the business opportunities associated with edible insects and to develop new business strategies.

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Product Manager

Product Managers develop and manage products. Edible Insects can help you to learn about the product development process for edible insects and to develop successful products.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of a business. Edible Insects can help you to learn about the operational challenges and opportunities associated with edible insects and to develop efficient and effective operations.

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Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Managers ensure that products and services meet quality standards. Edible Insects can help you to learn about the quality assurance challenges and opportunities associated with edible insects and to develop effective quality assurance programs.

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