Exploring the Environmental and Nutritional Benefits of Locusts

November 22, 2025 •

4 min read

Over 2 billion people worldwide already consume insects, and locusts are a staple food source in over 65 countries, highlighting the profound yet often overlooked benefits of locusts. Beyond their reputation as agricultural pests, these insects represent a high-protein, nutrient-dense, and sustainable food source with significant ecological advantages.

Quick Summary

This article details the numerous advantages of consuming locusts, from their rich nutritional profile to their low environmental footprint and potential for food security. It outlines their ecological role in nutrient cycling and explores their use in animal feed, medicine, and industrial applications, offering an alternative perspective on these creatures.

Key Points

High in Nutrients: Locusts are a rich source of protein, essential fatty acids like Omega-3, and micronutrients such as iron and zinc, often rivaling or exceeding conventional meat sources.
Environmental Sustainability: Raising locusts for food requires significantly less land, water, and feed compared to traditional livestock, resulting in a much lower carbon footprint.
Economic Opportunity: Harvesting locust swarms can generate income for local communities, turning a destructive plague into a profitable endeavor through the sale of insects for food, feed, or fertilizer.
Promotes Food Security: Utilizing locusts as a food and feed source, particularly during outbreaks, can help address malnutrition and protein scarcity in vulnerable regions.
Aids in Nutrient Cycling: In natural ecosystems, locusts play a beneficial role in nutrient cycling, returning nitrogen and carbon to the soil through their waste and cadavers.
Medicinal Potential: Researchers are exploring locusts for medical applications, including using their neural circuits to create early-stage cancer detection devices.

A Surprising Source of Sustainable Protein

While locust swarms are notorious for their destructive capacity, harvesting and consuming these insects offers a promising solution for nutrition and resource management. Research has consistently shown that locusts possess a remarkably high protein content, often surpassing that of traditional meat sources on a dry-matter basis. This high protein yield is complemented by a rich profile of essential amino acids, making them a high-quality dietary supplement, especially in areas facing protein scarcity. In many cultures, they are prepared by roasting, frying, or boiling, and are considered a delicacy, often described as having a flavor reminiscent of smoky bacon.

Additionally, locusts are packed with essential vitamins and minerals crucial for human health. Studies on the desert locust, for instance, have revealed significant levels of calcium, iron, and zinc—minerals often deficient in the diets of populations in regions affected by locust plagues. They are also a source of beneficial fatty acids, including Omega-3 and Omega-6, and other sterols that contribute to cardiovascular health. For weight-conscious consumers, locusts are naturally low in carbohydrates, making them compatible with diets like Atkins and Paleo.

Industrial and Medicinal Applications

Beyond direct consumption, locusts offer a range of applications in medicine and industry.

Chitin Production: The exoskeleton of locusts is rich in chitin, a biopolymer with various uses. Chitin can be processed into chitosan, a compound with potential probiotic properties and an ability to bind dietary lipids. This makes it a potential ingredient for nutraceuticals aimed at managing hypercholesterolemia.
Bioactive Compounds: Locusts contain bioactive proteins and peptides with potential health benefits. Some of these compounds have shown promise as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, suggesting a role in developing nutraceuticals for managing high blood pressure.
Medical Diagnostics: Groundbreaking research at Michigan State University has demonstrated that locusts can be trained to "smell" the difference between healthy human cells and various types of cancer cells. By hacking the insect's neural circuitry, scientists hope to develop highly sensitive, non-invasive breathalyzer-style diagnostic devices for early cancer detection. This offers a new path forward for medical research, utilizing evolution's naturally created solutions.
Waste Conversion: Pests targeted for control can be harvested and processed into useful products. Those treated with insecticides can still be composted, turning a potential hazard into a nutrient-rich fertilizer.

A Low-Impact Environmental Solution

Compared to conventional livestock, the production of locusts is significantly more sustainable, requiring substantially less land, water, and feed. A Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) study highlighted the low environmental footprint of locusts, noting their considerably lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to pigs and beef. This efficiency, coupled with their rapid life cycles, makes insect farming an attractive and eco-friendly alternative for protein production.

Locusts also play a significant, though often misunderstood, ecological role in nutrient cycling. In their natural habitats, they participate in breaking down and recycling nutrients. Their frass (excrement) and cadavers, when decomposed by microorganisms, return nitrogen and carbon to the soil, enriching it for plant growth. This process can help restore ecosystems, and studies have shown that harvesting large swarms can provide significant amounts of organic fertilizer. This demonstrates how managing infestations through collection can reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, protecting the environment from harmful contamination.

Locusts vs. Conventional Protein: A Comparison


Feature	Locusts (Dry Weight)	Beef (Traditional)
Protein Content	50–70%	19–26%
Omega-3 & Omega-6	Rich in both	Varies by feed
Key Minerals	High in Iron, Zinc, Calcium	Contains Iron, Zinc
Fat Content	13–35%	Varies significantly
Cholesterol	Low or absent	Present
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	Low	High
Water Footprint	Minimal	High

Promoting Responsible Harvesting

To safely capitalize on the benefits of locusts, particularly as food and feed, responsible harvesting practices are essential. Widespread insecticide spraying, a common tactic for controlling outbreaks, can contaminate locust populations with toxic residues. This poses serious health risks to humans and animals who consume them. Alternative control methods, such as manual collection or the use of biopesticides like entomopathogenic fungi, are safer and allow for subsequent consumption. Governments and local organizations are working to establish regulatory frameworks and incentivize harvesting programs, turning a destructive event into an economic and nutritional opportunity. The use of locusts for food and feed also helps manage swarm populations in an integrated and more sustainable way than chemical-dependent control alone.

Conclusion: The Unsung Benefits of Locusts

As the global population grows and food demands increase, the search for sustainable, nutritious, and economically viable food sources has intensified. Locusts, with their high protein content, rich mineral profile, and minimal environmental impact, present a compelling alternative to traditional animal agriculture. Their potential extends beyond food, offering prospects in medicine and industry through their rich bioactive compounds and chitin. While the image of a destructive swarm is hard to shake, a new perspective focused on leveraging these creatures for their inherent benefits can contribute significantly to food security and ecological health in a changing world. By embracing entomophagy and supporting safe harvesting practices, we can transform a historical pest into a resource for the future.

Learn more about sustainable protein sources at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Only locusts that have not been sprayed with chemical pesticides are safe for human and animal consumption. It is critical to ensure proper harvesting and processing to avoid contamination.

Locusts are highly nutritious, with a high protein content (up to 70% dry weight), essential fatty acids, and key minerals like calcium, iron, and zinc.

Locusts have a low environmental footprint compared to livestock, producing fewer greenhouse gases and requiring less land and water. They also contribute to nutrient cycling in ecosystems.

Yes, locust meal is a viable, high-protein ingredient for feeding livestock such as poultry, pigs, and fish. It can replace a portion of conventional protein sources like fishmeal.

The flavor can vary based on the species and preparation method, but many describe the taste of cooked locusts as similar to smoky bacon, almonds, or walnuts.

Yes, entomophagy involving locusts and other insects is a long-standing tradition in many parts of the world, with over 65 countries consuming locusts as a food source.

Harvesting is often done at night or in the early morning when the insects are less active. Methods range from manual collection with nets to mechanical traps. Use of biopesticides is also a safer alternative to chemical sprays.