The combination of tropical agriculture and insect use for food

Insects have been eaten as food from temperate to tropical regions except for Islamic cultures in a long tradition. In recent years, insects have attracted attention as a future food source. Various species of traditional edible insects can be collected through agricultural and rural life. These traditional edible insects have a connection between diverse natural environments and diverse food choices depending on peoples' livelihoods. The amount weights of insects consumed and the labor costs of collecting insects indicate that insects can be a substantial part of the diet among tropical peoples throughout the year. Insects are one of the ingredients that spice up the diets and help in the balance of micro nutrient intake such as Cu, Fe, and Zn. This presentation describes insect food as one of the various uses of natural resources in local subsistence strategies and cultural adaptations and evaluates its value as micro-nutrient resource. Case studies based on geographic and cultural ecological field surveys in which food safety and food security are crucial issues include termite consumption and crop raising on termite hills in Southern Africa (South Africa, Zimbabwe), edible insects associated with rice cultivation in Southeast Asia (Laos, Thailand), and edible forest insects associated with sago palm cultivation in Oceania (Papua New Guinea); health and nutritional transition were crucial issues. Agricultural land is greatly involved in the acquisition of edible insects depending on the growth of crops and the usage of agricultural land. Wild edible insect use can be integrated in agriculture such as growing crops on termite mounds and using the termites as food as well as managing pest insects by collecting them for food. It is necessary to understand the use of insects in the diet by understanding the interrelationship of human activities and insect habitats. In natural resource-dependent societies, the natural resources such as wild leaves, animals, and insects have been suppliers of micronutrients for a long period of time. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate adaptive aspects of local diets and subsistence activities that provides micronutrients. The relationship among health, nutritional status, diet and natural food resources was elucidated in different ecological settings. Effectiveness for health by micro-nutrients is regarded in the hypothesis of intake of miscellaneous wild food materials such as insects collected by subsistence activities