The world is heading toward a serious crisis that most people are unaware of. By 2030, the global population is expected to increase by more than 2.3 billion people, adding roughly 30% more hungry mouths to feed. These new humans are expected to be born into some of the most food-poor regions of the developing world, with fully 1.8 billion people expected to be born in Africa, creating a serious food crisis.
While the current agricultural infrastructure of the planet could potentially meet some of the macronutrient needs of this impending Malthusian population explosion, there is no clear plan for meeting the needs of the population for the most important macronutrient of all- protein.
The average healthy adult requires between 50 and 60 grams of protein every day, which most people source from meat. Meat, however, is an extremely inefficient method of converting plant carbohydrates into proteins, taking 200 square meters of land, 2,000 gigalitres of water, and creating massive amounts of greenhouse gas to generate just one pound of beef.
While some startups have focused on developing new hyper-efficient methods of creating algae-based protein extractions, these solutions are still in the concept stage, and far from the market. A Canada based food tech startup, however, is already providing the public with a highly efficient, nutritious, and cost-effective source of protein- crickets.
Coast Cricket Protein is a health product manufacturer that is leveraging the incredibly efficient metabolism and short life cycle of the humble cricket to create a potential answer to the impending global food crisis with delicious peanut butter and dark chocolate flavored protein bars.
In this article, we’ll check out the Coast Cricket Protein solution and find out how it works to help you decide whether switching over to insect protein is the best option for your health and that of the planet we live on.
What is Coast Cricket Protein?
Coast Cricket Protein is the brainchild of Dylan Jones, the founder of the company and an avid health enthusiast. While backpacking through Southeast Asia in his early 20’s Jones was surprised to find insects a normal, everyday culinary favorite, with options such as lime and chilli fried crickets highly popular with locals. Compared to the unnatural hormone and antibiotic polluted meat available in his Canadian home, the concept of insect protein appealed to the inner conservationist in Jones.
Inspired by this early encounter with insect protein, Jones proceeded to investigate the feasibility of large scale insect protein foods, discovering that insects are common foods throughout more than 80% of countries in the world. Intent on creating a palatable solution that would provide a clean, efficient source of healthy protein that could be introduced to the Western market, Jones settled on cricket flour, and founded the Coast Cricket Protein company.
The cricket protein offered in the Coast Cricket Protein range is far more efficient and environmentally friendly than beef, requiring 2000% less water and just a fraction of the land that is required to create one pound of beef in order to create one pound of cricket protein flour, with just 1% of the emissions.
Coast Cricket Protein Bars
The Coast Cricket Protein solution is currently available in two separate protein bar flavors, although a protein powder supplement is currently in development. Coast Cricket Protein Bars are available in both Dark Chocolate Raisin and Peanut Butter Flavor, which offer a surprisingly healthy nutritional profile.
Coast Cricket Protein is extremely rich in micronutrients, and contain all 9 of the essential amino acids required for the body to thrive, negating the need for extra supplements. Each Coast Cricket Protein Bar weighs in at 58 grams, and contains between 275 and 282 calories, depending on the flavor chosen.
Coast Cricket Protein bars are almost 18% pure protein, with 10 grams of cricket protein in each bar. The Coast Cricket Protein Bar formula contains no artificial ingredients, additives, or preservatives, and uses only natural flavors to create unique and delicious tastes.
The Peanut Butter Coast Cricket Protein Bar combines creamy peanut butter and honey with cricket protein, honey, and dried fruit to provide a high energy, high protein snack. The Dark Chocolate Raisin Coast Cricket Protein Bar, like the Peanut Butter bar, is completely natural, and contains sunflower seeds, cocoa powder, honey, chocolate chips, sea salt, and vanilla extract.
While the Coast Cricket Protein wins points for providing tentative consumers with a palatable and tasty way to incorporate sustainable cricket protein into their diets, in future we’d like to see a somewhat healthier formula, as the high sugar content of the Coast Cricket Protein bars, at around 17 grams each bar, makes them unsuitable for diets such as the keto or paleo diets.
The Coast Cricket Protein Verdict
The Coast Cricket Protein solution is one of the only sustainable insect protein bar solutions available on the market today, and offers environmentally-conscious consumers a sustainable, if a little indulgent, method of increasing protein intake without harming the planet.
If you’re looking for a tasty protein-rich power boost that helps the world take a closer step toward sustainable protein, Coast Cricket Protein provides a great option.
