{"id":10389,"date":"2016-11-04T00:29:07","date_gmt":"2016-11-04T04:29:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\/"},"modified":"2016-11-04T13:15:25","modified_gmt":"2016-11-04T17:15:25","slug":"exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\/","title":{"rendered":"Exo and the case for crickets: a small chirp in global food production"},"content":{"rendered":"

As global populations and temperatures rise over the course of the coming decades, the need to sustainably and efficiently feed our planet grows as well.\u00a0 Entomophagy, or insect eating, may be a quirky yet simple solution to this global problem, especially in Western countries.\u00a0 Crickets can provide a protein-rich, efficient, and innovative food source to billions without requiring significant land use or water resources.<\/p>\n

Shrinking glaciers, reduced snowpack, and erratic rainfall risks water supply \u2013 and therefore food supply \u2013 to key regions and up to 2 billion people.[i]<\/a> \u00a0According to a 2009 McKinsey study, water demand will outstrip supply by 40% by 2030.[ii]<\/a>\u00a0 Thus, efficiently using water to produce food for human consumption is a critical objective.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, producing crickets has many economic advantages.\u00a0 A key cost driver for producing livestock is animal feed. Crickets require 12 times less feed than cattle, four times less than sheep, and half as much as pigs and chickens to produce the same amount of protein (see Figure 1).[iii]<\/a>\u00a0 Thus, on a relative basis, crickets are among the most efficient outputs of protein.\u00a0 Furthermore, crickets are cold-blooded and mature more quickly than livestock, further reducing total water needs over time. Finally, crickets yield more consumable food and reduce total waste: 80% of cricket yield is edible, compared to 40% of beef output (Figure 1).\u00a0 Crickets thus are a more efficient vehicle to deliver comparable amounts of protein at lower water and feed costs.<\/p>\n

\"Figure<\/a>
Figure 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A related point is that crickets emit fewer greenhouse gases than livestock.\u00a0 The United Nations estimates place greenhouse gas emissions from livestock at up to 18% of the global emission, even more than the net emissions of transportation.[iv]<\/a> \u00a0Conversely, cricket production has very low greenhouse gas and ammonia emission rates (see Figure 2 below).[v]<\/a>\u00a0 As investment in cricket production rises, technology can help cricket production to achieve zero landfill output via biodegradable processes.<\/p>\n

\"Figure<\/a>
Figure 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

These challenges provide an opportunity for private companies like Exo to make a difference in the global food supply chain.\u00a0 Exo\u2019s entire business model and strategy is predicated on addressing climate change issues by creating a sustainable alternative to protein production.<\/p>\n

Exo is a Brooklyn-based cricket-flour protein bars company with products that have no gluten, soy, dairy, or grain.\u00a0 Exo sells 60-gram bars with 10-grams of protein in flavors such as cocoa nut and apple cinnamon (see Figure 3).[vi]<\/a>\u00a0 The crickets are frozen and dehydrated before being converted into powder, and each bar contains roughly ~40 crickets.\u00a0 Cricket-based protein, according to Exo, is a viable substitute for traditional protein, and has hired award-winning chefs such as Kyle Connaughton to introduce cricket protein to a new consumer base with \u201ca lot of preconceived ideas that were negative.\u201d[vii]<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Figure<\/a>
Figure 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The company sources crickets from farms in the US and Canada, including Entomo Farms in Norwood, Ontario and All Things Bugs in Athens, Georgia.[viii]<\/a> \u00a0Exo\u2019s growth has spillover effects on other companies in the supply chain in this market.<\/p>\n

We should care about the success of companies like Exo because they are introducing a new and sustainable source of protein to Western consumers. Crickets can even have a self-sustaining production process, according to Exo cofounder Greg Sewitz: \u201cOne of the moonshot ideas we have is to use all the poop the crickets produce, which is a lot, to fertilize plants and then feed the plants back to them.\u201d[ix]<\/a> \u00a0Exo has recently raised $4 million to increase its opportunities to demonstrate the value of cricket-based food products and production methods in relation to current practices. \u00a0I would consider introducing cricket powder into other food products into additional packaged goods products beyond bars.\u00a0 Additionally, Exo can establish a leadership position in the supply chain by setting high supplier sustainability standards.<\/p>\n

However, several barriers exist to widespread cricket consumption:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Legislation: though farmers have bred cricket feed for 70 years, farming for human consumption is relatively new and regulations and laws do not clearly impose different standards on farming.[x]<\/a> [xi]<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Taste and perception: Western diets typically do not include insects. Shifting consumer perception that insects are both good tasting and good nutrition can be costly and time-consuming.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In summary, crickets provide protein efficiently, at reduced emissions cost and lower water usage, in innovative food products to consumers in new markets, and help to create jobs.\u00a0 Hop on board the entomophagy train, and buy an Exo bar!\u00a0 From personal experience, they taste great.<\/p>\n

    (783 Words)<\/p>\n

    \"Figure<\/a>
    Figure 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Sources:<\/p>\n

    [i]<\/a>\u00a0性视界 Business Publishing. \u00a0Herderson, Rebecca M. and others. \u00a0Climate Change in 2016: Implications for Business. \u00a0<\/em>Revised version: October 14, 2016.<\/p>\n

    [ii]<\/a> McKinsey & Company. 2016. Charting our water future | McKinsey & Company <\/em>. [ONLINE] Available at: http:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/business-functions\/sustainability-and-resource-productivity\/our-insights\/charting-our-water-future<\/a><\/u>. [Accessed 04 November 2016].<\/p>\n

    [iii]<\/a>\u00a0Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. \u00a0Edible Insects: future prospects for food and feed security.<\/em>\u00a0 Available at:\u00a0http:\/\/www.fao.org\/docrep\/018\/i3253e\/i3253e.pdf<\/a>. \u00a0Accessed November 4, 2016.<\/p>\n

    [iv]<\/a> Quartz. 2016. Five reasons we should all be eating insects \u2014 Quartz<\/em>. [ONLINE] Available at: http:\/\/qz.com\/84127\/five-reasons-we-should-all-be-eating-insects\/<\/a><\/u>. [Accessed 04 November 2016].<\/p>\n

    [v]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid, FAO report.<\/p>\n

    [vi]<\/a>\u00a0Bloomberg.com. 2016. Exo Cricket Protein Bars Closes Series A With Rapper Nas, Top Chef – Bloomberg<\/em>. [ONLINE] Available at: http:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2016-03-07\/exo-cricket-protein-bars-closes-series-a-with-rapper-nas-top-chef<\/a><\/u>. [Accessed 04 November 2016].<\/p>\n

    [vii]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n

    [viii]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n

    [ix]<\/a> Bloomberg.com. 2016. Two Young Entrepreneurs Pitch Cricket Bars for the Paleo Crowd – Bloomberg<\/em>. [ONLINE] Available at: http:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2014-02-03\/two-young-entrepreneurs-pitch-cricket-bars-for-the-paleo-crowd<\/a><\/u>. [Accessed 04 November 2016].<\/p>\n

    [x]<\/a>\u00a0The Companies Farming Crickets for Human Consumption – The Atlantic<\/em>. [ONLINE] Available at: http:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/health\/archive\/2015\/09\/americas-cricket-farmers\/406843\/<\/a><\/u>. [Accessed 04 November 2016].<\/p>\n

    [xi]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid, FAO report.<\/p>\n

    Image Sources:<\/p>\n

    Figure 1: Ibid, FAO report.<\/p>\n

    Figure 2:\u00a0Ibid.<\/p>\n

    Figure 3: Exo Protein Company website, www.exoprotein.com. \u00a0Accessed November 4, 2016.<\/p>\n

    Figure 4: Ibid.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Exo uses cricket-based flour to make protein bars, bringing an innovative and sustainable approach to common food products. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2431,"featured_media":10400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[],"class_list":["post-10389","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/assignment\/climate-change-challenge-2016\/","yoast_head":"\nExo and the case for crickets: a small chirp in global food production - Technology and Operations Management<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Exo and the case for crickets: a small chirp in global food production - Technology and Operations Management\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Exo uses cricket-based flour to make protein bars, bringing an innovative and sustainable approach to common food products.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Technology and Operations Management\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2016-11-04T17:15:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/exo.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"520\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"313\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\\\/\",\"name\":\"Exo and the case for crickets: a small chirp in global food production - Technology and Operations Management\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/exo.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-11-04T04:29:07+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2016-11-04T17:15:25+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/exo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/exo.png\",\"width\":520,\"height\":313},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Submissions\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Exo and the case for crickets: a small chirp in global food production\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/\",\"name\":\"Technology and Operations Management\",\"description\":\"MBA Student Perspectives\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"性视界Action\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Exo and the case for crickets: a small chirp in global food production - Technology and Operations Management","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Exo and the case for crickets: a small chirp in global food production - Technology and Operations Management","og_description":"Exo uses cricket-based flour to make protein bars, bringing an innovative and sustainable approach to common food products.","og_url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\/","og_site_name":"Technology and Operations Management","article_modified_time":"2016-11-04T17:15:25+00:00","og_image":[{"width":520,"height":313,"url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/exo.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\/","url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\/","name":"Exo and the case for crickets: a small chirp in global food production - Technology and Operations Management","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/exo.png","datePublished":"2016-11-04T04:29:07+00:00","dateModified":"2016-11-04T17:15:25+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/exo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/exo.png","width":520,"height":313},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/exo-and-the-case-for-crickets-a-small-chirp-in-global-food-production\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Submissions","item":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Exo and the case for crickets: a small chirp in global food production"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/#website","url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/","name":"Technology and Operations Management","description":"MBA Student Perspectives","potentialAction":[{"@type":"性视界Action","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hck-submission\/10389","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hck-submission"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/hck-submission"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2431"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10389"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hck-submission\/10389\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}