Farmer explores business of bugs(2)

American cockroaches can eat all types of food, from vegetables to wheat. They can also survive for 30 days without food.

The difficulty comes from hatching the eggs. He said most cockroach farms hatch about 30 percent of eggs, while his farm hatches about 80 percent.

The business initially drew strong protests from residents in neighboring villages, as they feared cockroaches would infest their homes.

Wang assured them that the cockroaches from his farm cannot survive northern China's harsh winters, as the American cockroach can only live in moderate to high temperatures.

"They are raised in a secluded environment, from eggs to adults. There is no chance they'd leave the farm — absolutely safe," he said.

Liu Yusheng, an associate professor at Shandong Agricultural University and director of the Shandong Insect Industry Association, said the business will boom as the benefits of American cockroaches are appreciated more.

However, Liu said some farmers lack the skills and business connections to raise the insects.

"The market is unique as farmers can only sell the roaches to producers of medicine. Other than that they barely have any economic value," he said.

On the menu

Despite the fact China is one of the largest insect-consuming countries in the world, Liu believes it will be very difficult for the public to change preconceived notions.

People in China have arguably the most liberal palette in the world, and menus often include insects, ranging from locusts and silkworm chrysalis to scorpions and cicadas.

Even so, cockroaches are still on the list of people's greatest phobias.

However, Li Shunan, a renowned expert on cockroach research and director of the American Cockroach International Research Center in the Dali Bai autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province, warned of the risk of eating cockroaches.

"The viruses and bacteria in cockroaches cannot be eliminated during the farming process, no matter how confined the environment is," he said.

Li, who has conducted research on cockroaches for more than 40 years, said cockroach viruses can only be dealt with during the factory production process.

His research has enabled the development of a series of drugs, including those that could help cure stomach ulsers, burns, chronic heart failure and hepatitis B.

He also called on farmers to take a more cautious approach to raising cockroaches as the market is monopolized by pharmaceutical companies.

"The use of cockroaches will be limited as the demand for the drugs will not see a dramatic increase," he said, adding the market is dominated by four companies that produce medicines using American cockroaches.

"The farmers must have proper contracts with the companies before starting the business, or they risk bankruptcy," he said.