Wu 1

The passage is titled "They're Healthy. They're Sustainable. People Are Going to Eat Bugs -

and Like It," and it was published in Time Magazine. The author of the article is Aryn Baker.

The author's main argument is that consuming insects is an effective solution to address

starvation due to its environmental friendliness when compared to eating other livestock and its

nutritional value for humans. Aryn Baker’s hidden agenda is to advertise and promote her brand

new cookbook. The subject of current interest is the food shortage resulting from war. A possible

controversy could be that a vegetarian diet offers a more effective environmental solution than

the author's proposal of insect consumption. Some biographical information is that she is a

professional singer and freelance writer for Time Magazine. The intended audience includes

people who are concerned about the ecological crisis and those who are open to trying new

things. The author's effort to persuade readers to try eating bugs is hampered by various factors,

including a lack of proof, the omission of facts, and logical fallacies.

In his article, according to the World Economic Forum, In 2050, with a projected global

population of 9.8 billion, food production will need to increase by 70%. However, climate

change, urbanization, and soil degradation are diminishing the availability of suitable farmland.

Moreover, traditional agriculture and irresponsible farming will make the situation worse,

potentially causing hunger. The author says that farming insects is an effective solution since it

requires less space and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to other livestock.
 Wu 2

The author goes on to say that insect-based food is rich in protein, which is a vital component of

the human body. Notably, even athletes from the National Hockey League's Winnipeg Jets have

tested healthy insect protein bars. The author also mentioned that bugs are mostly tasteless,

making it easy to incorporate them into other foods without negatively affecting the overall taste.

Additionally, the author also provides an example of an insect-based food, the bacon bug, which

is described as delicious and even children find it appealing. In some countries, like Madagascar,

bugs are traditionally consumed as snacks, and Western restaurants are trying to incorporate them

into their dishes. In her conclusion, war and conflicts contribute significantly to world hunger,

disrupting food supplies and causing food insecurity. Insect farming offers a proactive solution to

prevent future starvation.

Baker's main idea is that eating insects is a sustainable solution to combat hunger due to its

environmental benefits and nutritional value for humans. As the author's vested interest in

writing a cookbook about bugs, it is evident that she has a hidden agenda to promote her book.

The author's supporting points are also problematic in the following ways: lack of proof,

omission of facts, and logical fallacies.

The author's claim that the trend of eating bugs is on the rise lacks proof, as she does not

provide expert opinions or statistics to support her assertion. For example, she says, " In the past

decade climate advocates and body builders across the United States have turned to these
 Wu 3

delicious and nutritious insects as a route toward salvation from the excesses of meat-eating

society." Without concrete evidence, a significant claim like this cannot be taken seriously, which

weakens her position.

Furthermore, the author omits the fact that being a vegetarian can be more costly. For

example, in her argument, if people were to live on Mars, she suggests that farming insects is the

only viable choice for survival due to its efficiency compared to livestock farming. However, it is

worth noting that even insects need to be fed, and humans can farm plants directly, which could

provide a source of food for those living on Mars.

Finally, this article relies on illogical statements. The author claims that a bug-based diet

promotes better health based on the endorsement of famous athletes, but it is important to note

that athletes are not professional nutritionists. She also shares stories of younger individuals who

embrace and enjoy this new food in an attempt to persuade readers that the trend of consuming

insects is becoming increasingly popular. However, young people often lose interest in new

things quickly. From her perspective, she warns that if the public doesn't take action to farm

insects for food, the situations of famine and pollution could worsen, despite the fact that

vegetables might offer a better solution than eating bugs.

In conclusion, this article presents an argument for eating insects that lacks the necessary

nuance and logical foundation. It simplistically attempts to persuade the audience that consuming
 Wu 4

insects is beneficial for both the environment and human health. However, the author does not

acknowledge that adopting a vegetarian diet may be a more effective solution to address

environmental concerns. The author's focus on ecological issues and health may not resonate

with readers interested in entomophagy, as those who are concerned about these problems are

likely already vegetarians. The author's vested interest in promoting her new cookbook, along

with her oversimplification of the problem and disregard for alternative solutions, makes it

difficult for readers to accept her proposal.