Chapters authored
Pesticide Impact on Honeybees Declines and Emerging Food Security Crisis
Bee crisis is threatening worldwide food security. Pesticides are extensively used in the agricultural zone. Unfortunately, these pesticides cause severe toxicity toward pollinators than the target pests such as honeybees. This review summarizes the different studies related to pesticide hazards of bees. This paper reported risks of pesticides neurological and physiological poisoning toward honeybees. Pesticides act as poison and ruin vital functions involved in leaning and cognition, behavior and, the body physiological mechanisms. Many laboratory and field research data evaluated the lethal and sub-lethal poisoning on bee foraging dance, learning, and memory abilities of honeybees. Insecticide residues are detected in bee bodies and LD50 and LC50 values evaluated. It is also studied that in honeybees systemic insecticide residues and, its metabolite adulterated in their body during foraging activities. Similarly, pesticide-contaminated food stored in a hive consumed continuously by honeybees may cause sub-lethal toxicity effects. Which causes anomalous bee social behavior and ultimately leads to colony collapse disorder. If population of pollinator decline it will disturb the food chain and leads to food crisis. This review emphasized causes of bee decline with the emergence of pesticides in agricultural domains.
Part of the book: Global Decline of Insects
Role of Edible Insects as Food Source to Combat Food Security Challenges – Innovative and Traditional Approaches
World Food Security organization committee stated that food security exists when safe, healthy, and nutritious food is present to all human beings, to meet their dietary needs. There are four pillars of food security such as availability, access, utilization, and stability, while the nutritional dimension is considered integral to the concept of food security. Protein is an essential dietary component. It is required for the proper growth of individuals. Meat is an excellent source of protein. However, because of the increasing demand for meat and declining agricultural land. There is an urgent need to discover alternative ways to full fill public protein demand. Edible insects are the best alternative source of protein. They can be harvested in large amounts. Insect meals can replace scarce fishmeal as feed ingredients. Insects are not only a source of protein but also contained various nutrients and minerals such as iron, zinc, and selenium. People showed awareness of the importance of insects as an essential dietary element. Edible insect harvesting is a new emerging agriculture sector and needs the special attention of researchers and the government. Thus, insects require the use of commercial processing methods that will render the protein suitable for food/feed formulation, while maintaining the safety, nutritional and sensory quality of the final product.
Part of the book: Food Security Challenges and Approaches