I wonder how many of these stories were funded by the effort in Singapore. I've heard some stories that there was a funded PR campaign to boost the industry.
For Singapore, it's actually a national security issue and not an environmental one. There were (are?) several programs to the city state functioning if a war in the region broke out. Insect farming was one of the projects to harden the food supply chain with local farms supplying Singapore if food imports are restricted.
It sounds gross, but better than starving due to a blockade I guess.
Or you could align yourself with the US. If the US ever loses air superiority then the world is already on fire and Singapore is probably screwed anyhow.
