Larvae look detestable to many of us. The detestable, however, is now turning into a profit thanks to the rich protein they carry. A Korean old medicine book Dongui Bogam records larvae are good for eyes, bones and wounds. A domestic insect industry survey conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in 2021 showed the volume jumped to 44.6 billion won (USD 34.137 million) on pervious year of which 51.8% came from edible worms. The number of companies also increased by 4.8% to be 139 in total. 

Growing larvae requires clean environment, quality sawdust and ideal temperature and humidity. Once attacked by pests, all go to dead and leave nothing. Having knowledge and skills, therefore, is a must before you jump into a business. 

▲ Anseong Insects Industry Society / President Kihoon Kim

Kihoon Kim, President of the Anseong Insects Industry Society, was one of those who got their larvae killed all from wrong ways of growing. He says that larvae are sensitive that a slight change of temperature and humidity not to mention pest can be vital. Pest control especially is crucial as they all die from a single larva being infected because it spreads faster than we thought. 

Having experienced a bitter failure, Kim took a course at Gyeonggi Agricultural College run by the Gyeonggi Agricultural Research & Extension Services. When he became confident with knowledge and skills, he resumed the business in 2015 and formed the society in cooperation with 12 fellow farmers in Anseong the next year. As of August 2022, the member farmers of society have reached to 60. 

Kim opened a processing center in 2017, the year where larvae was officially recognized as edible food. The center is equipped with facilities that can make larvae into juice, pills and powder for consumers to eat simple and easy. Soon after, the society launched its own brand GoomGoom while orders for processing are flooding in from all over the country thanks to the facilities and good manufacturing practices. The larvae that passed the quality standard of the society can be sold with GoomGoom mark on the package. 

GoomGoom is made of larvae grown with the sawdust that contains red ginseng. The water must go through heavy metal tests and the larvae must satisfy the standard for the weight and the 90 day raising term to have GoomGoom mark on it. 

The dried larvae or powder is made of 100% larvae; the pills with 85% of larvae, 12% of sticky rice and 3% of bay leaves; the juice with 42% of larvae and the rest with 9 kinds of medicinal ingredients including jujube, ginseng and licorice. 

A Chinese old medicine book Bochouieun records that larvae helps blood circulation and is good for liver. <PowerKorea>