4 In comparison, the carbon footprint for beef, pork, and poultry is estimated to be about 18kgs, 6 kgs, and 5.4kgs per 1 kg of edible meat respectively. The carbon footprint of snail meat is estimated to be around 0.7 kgs per 1 kg of edible of meat. In comparison to macro-livestock such as cows, pigs, and poultry, snails require fewer resources to grow and produce the same amount of nutrient rich meat. 3 What makes snail meat environment-friendly? This means that farmers outside tropical and subtropical regions need to invest in climate control systems for their (usually indoor) snail farms. Rearing snails requires a constant temperature, high humidity, and a fairly constant day and night rhythm throughout the year. 3 It is important to ensure that pens are escape-proof because snails that escape the farm turn into agricultural pests and can have severe consequences for natural ecosystems.įarmed snails are fed a diet of leaves, fruits, flowers, and even kitchen scraps. Activities involved in snail farming include feeding, maintaining hygienic conditions in the pen, checking soil quality, and recording development. 3 Depending on the size of the business, farmers may have different pens for different stages in the life-cycle of the snails. Rearing snails for human consumption is known as heliciculture. Like any other animals suitable for human consumption, land snails can be farmed as livestock. How does snail farming or helicuture work? 2 The fat content in snail meat is comparatively lower than many conventional animal proteins, whilst also boasting a rich source of minerals like iron and calcium. 1 This protein is considered to be of high quality because it contains all the essential amino acids required by the human body. On an average, snails contain 16 grams of protein per 100 grams of edible meat. Their texture is firm and slightly chewy, comparable to that of squids and mussels. Snails are neutral to taste and take on the flavour of the ingredients they are cooked with. 1 Several species of sea snails such as whelks and abalones are also consumed throughout the world. 1 Ampullariidae, also known as apple snails, are freshwater snails eaten in many Asian countries. Among land snails, Helix pomatia and Helix aspersa are commonly consumed. Of all the species found in the wild, not all are edible of course. Snails are gastropod molluscs that are found on land as well as in water. The French Escargots de Bourgogne cooked with parsley and garlic butter, the Moroccan broth Babbouche, fried snails from Crete in Grece called Chochlioi Buburisti, Nigerian Peppered Snails, and Korean salad Golbaengi Muchim are some popular examples. Several communities around the world consume edible snails as part of their traditional cuisine. Several options that seem unconventional today might become regular additions to our meals in the future. Scientists, governments, farmers, and environmentally conscious consumers are working hard to find ways to produce and consume protein-rich foods in a sustainable way. Are Edible Snails a source of sustainable meat?.
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