Search

Entomophagy as an alternative way of eating in the Czech Republic is gaining more and more supporters. For this reason, we have focused on the microbial quality of the insect dry powder made from Tenebrio molitor during storage. In the samples were determined the major groups of microorganisms by standard procedures. It is the total number of microorganisms, aerobic microorganisms thermoresistant, E. coli and other coliform bacteria, micromycetes and bacteria of the genus Enterococcus. The highest increase of total microorganisms occurred after five months storage in the sample stored in a paper bag and cold, where their number reached a value of 2.870 log CFU/g. For the same sample, coliform bacteria at the rate of 1.839 log CFU/g were also detected. The other monitored groups of microorganisms were in the samples at most in the order of tens of CFU/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the deadline for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) fast approaches, Kenya is still grappling with significant challenges in meeting the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)'s four pillars of food security: access, availability, sustainability, and utilization. Recent assessments by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) indicate that nearly 1.9 million people are in acute food insecurity, while over 5.5 million are at risk of hunger. About 1 million children in Kenya are estimated to be suffering malnutrition (UNICEF, 2023), a figure that is worryingly projected to rise sharply in the coming months due to inflationary pressures and environmental shocks. A new paradigm is therefore required to secure the right of every Kenyan "to be free from hunger, and to have adequate food of acceptable quality", enshrined in Article 43(1c) of the Constitution. Entomophagy, which refers to the practice of consuming edible insects, provides a more sustainable and environmentfriendly approach towards availing affordable and nutritious food. This policy paper deeply examines the strategies for promoting entomophagy as a comprehensive solution to food insecurity and malnutrition, while analyzing the barriers. The key highlights include: i. Edible insects provide a rich source of protein nutrients for human consumption and animal feeds. Entomophagy also provides circular benefits to the economy in the form of sustainability, resource efficiency, and environmental conservation, and thus could form part of Kenya's strategy towards achieving its Nationally Determined Contributions goal of cutting down greenhouse gas emissions by 32 per cent by 2030. ii. Inadequate legal frameworks and lack of harmonized standards, negative consumer perceptions on eating insects, research gaps in entomophagy, limited awareness on the nutritional benefits of insects and the high financial costs of running insect-based enterprises are barriers that limit promotion of entomophagy in Kenya. iii. Policy recommendations include developing legal frameworks to support insect farming, implementing awareness campaigns primarily targeting the youths, supporting growth of commercial insectbased enterprises through subsidies and capacity-building programs, and investing in research on entomophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to identify factors influencing household decisions on whether to consume edible termites and the level of termite consumption in the Vhembe district of Limpopo province in South Africa. The study used secondary data sourced from the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the University of Witwatersrand that was collected from 104 households in the Vhembe District in 2016. A descriptive statistical analysis was used to profile consumers’ socio-economic characteristics. In addition, a logistic model and Ordinary Least Squares were used to determine the factors influencing a household’s decision to consume edible termites and the level of consumption respectively. The results revealed that demographic factors (the age and gender of the household head) and religious beliefs influenced both consumption and the level of consumption. In addition, the type of termite preferred positively influenced the level of consumption, while knowledge influenced the decision to consume termites. The recommendations based on these results are that efforts should be made to promote the consumption of edible termites among the younger population, particularly males. Education programs could be designed to increase knowledge about termites and their nutritional benefits, which may increase consumption. Additionally, efforts should be made to understand and address the negative influence of religion on the consumption of edible termites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entomophagy is not a new phenomenon in the world. Moreover, it is a traditional diet in a large part of the planet. However, in the European framework it belongs to the category of novel food and although the topic is often debated, it represents a growing choice in human and animal nutrition. Edible insects have the potential to serve as a healthy, sustainable alternative to animal protein sources due to their valuable nutritional composition. They may have superior health benefits based on high levels of essential amino acids, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin B12, iron, zinc, fibre and antioxidants. They could offer a myriad of environmental benefits, including overall reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and reduced use of agricultural land and water. Future research should aim to understand the beneficial effects of whole insects or insect isolates compared to traditional foods of animal and plant origin. Although insects have the potential to be used as meat substitutes or dietary supplements, leading to benefits for human health and the environment, this paper does not aim to ultimately propagate their use, but to point out their advantages and qualities, as well as potential dangers and risks, and finally to present ways of placing insects on the European market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Science and technology studies scholars have discussed the concept of nature within the context of Christian settler hierarchies (Cronon; Haraway; Titon). However, despite an emerging literature (Doolittle; Mundy), the narrativization of interspecies relations in musical contexts remains undertheorized. In this paper, I examine the ways that music has been used to construct seventeen-year Magicicada Brood X as biologically necessary within Christian environmentalism in the Midwestern United States, despite widespread popular claims that cicadas are "annoying" or "gross." Utilizing a mixture of gastromusicological and multispecies ethnographic techniques, I examine the 2021 event "All Creatures Yum!" in Bloomington, IN, which featured a combination of cicada culinary pop-ups with an album of cicada music. Critiquing David Rothenberg's claim that cicada noise is evidence of a prior stage of human musical evolution, I argue that the pairing of cicadas-as-food with cicadas-as-musical-collaborators suggests a complex negotiation by which participants are involved in "eating the Other" as theorized by bell hooks. The violence of consumption, contrasted with narratives of benevolent bio-musical harmony, brings to light questions of "what particular forms of life and death mean and why they matter" (Van Dooren 7). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Current Social & Economic Processes / Jelenkori Társadalmi és Gazdasági Folyamatok is the property of University of Szeged, Faculty of Engineering and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Globally, crickets are gaining recognition as a valuable alternative protein source for human consumption due to their lower resource requirement and ecological footprint compared to traditional livestock. In this paper, we examine strategies that may expedite the sustainable domestication of crickets as a food source. Using survey data from 306 households in western Kenya, we find that supplying cricket production starter kits, granting access to credit facilities, encouraging participation in farmer groups, and fostering partnerships can enhance the adoption of cricket farming. Moreover, we provide new evidence that institutional training significantly increases cricket yields while embracing cricket consumption (i.e. entomophagy) increases market supply. These findings underscore the importance of technical training, provision of production starter kits, and raising awareness about entomophagy to achieve sustainable mass production and adoption of cricket farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While insects are eaten by around two billion people globally, they are a relatively new addition to the UK's culinary landscape. A domestic production sector has begun to emerge to supply this new appetite for insects. Social scientists have been quick to explore consumer attitudes to "edible insects" but insect farmers have thus far been largely ignored. This paper addresses this gap by drawing on interviews with the UK's current and recent edible insect farmers to explore their understandings of, and approaches to, insect death, something about which all participants expressed concern. The paper examines: 1) reasons for farmers' concerns around how they kill their insects, ranging from anxieties around insect pain to perceived consumer attitudes; and 2) farmers' ideas about what constitutes a "good" death for insects, and how they incorporate this in their practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Social & Cultural Geography is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study reports a new case of acanthocephalan (thorny-headed worm) eggs in a coprolite from Bonneville Estates Rockshelter in eastern Nevada and uses archaeological and ethnographic data to better understand long-term relationships between people and acanthocephalans. Acanthocephalans are parasitic worms that use arthropods as intermediate hosts in their multi-host life cycles. Though acanthocephaliasis is rare among humans today, cases have increased in the last decade, and the discovery of acanthocephalan eggs in coprolites from archaeological sites in the Great Basin suggests a deep, shared history. At Bonneville Estates Rockshelter, 9 acanthocephalan eggs were recovered using a modified rehydration-homogenization-micro-sieving protocol on a coprolite that was radiocarbon dated to 6,040 ± 60 14C BP (7,160–6,730 cal BP), pushing back the oldest evidence of human acanthocephalan infection by 3 millennia. Researchers have proposed that the paleoepidemiology of acanthocephalans may relate to subsistence practices due to overlap in locations of infection and areas where insects are part of traditional foodways. This paper considers the paleoepidemiology of acanthocephalan infection through the first combined review of paleoparasitological, ethnographic, and archaeological records in western North America. Ethnographic and archaeological records support the hypothesis that archaeological cases of human acanthocephaliasis may be linked to entomophagy. Additional parasitological analyses are advised to determine whether this distribution is the result of dietary practices, host ecology, taphonomic issues, sampling biases, or a combination of factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for livestock products is associated with an increase in environmental, economic, and ethical issues. New alternative sources of protein such as edible insects have recently been developed to tackle these issues with fewer drawbacks. However, several challenges are associated with insect-based food, mainly regarding consumer acceptance and commercialization. In this systematic review, we explored these challenges by reviewing 85 papers from 2010 to 2020, which were selected following the PRISMA methodology. Additionally, we applied the SPIDER (Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation, and Research type) tool for developing the inclusion criteria. Our analysis adds new knowledge to previous systematic reviews on this topic. It reveals both a comprehensive framework of factors influencing consumers' acceptance of insects as food and aspects of the marketing mix of these products. Disgust, food neophobia, familiarity, visibility of insects, and taste appear to be the most significant factors that can prevent consumers from consuming insects as food. The motivations for acceptance are found to be familiarity and exposure. The results of this review provide insights for policymakers and stakeholders who wish to develop marketing strategies that can increase consumer acceptance of insects as food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Rearing crickets in the UK for the live pet food market is already a well-established industry. However, there is interest in also producing food for human consumption. This paper presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of a current live pet food business. Using results from this LCA, the papers explores how current business practices could be improved to reduce environmental impacts, and discusses the potential benefits of a hybrid live pet food/human consumption business model. Methods: An attributional, cradle-to-farm-gate life cycle assessment was conducted on rearing crickets for the live pet food market, with data collected on-site at a case study business. Results are reported in multiple impact categories from the ILCD 2011 Midpoint+ method. Comparison is made to the only other similar study: an LCA of rearing crickets in Thailand for human consumption (Halloran et al. J Clean Prod 156:83–94, 2017). The sources of the different environmental impacts between the two studies are explored and inefficiencies in the live pet food rearing process identified. Subsequently, scenarios are used to explore how the inefficiencies may be mitigated, and environmental impact of the live pet food production process reduced through adoption of a hybrid live pet food/human food production model. Results and discussions: The environmental impact was found to be larger across all impact categories than the only known comparable study, which is for rearing crickets in Thailand for human consumption (Halloran et al. J Clean Prod 156:83–94, 2017). Some of this difference is due to the heating required for rearing crickets in a climate such as the UK, and some is due to the requirements of the live pet food market being much more demanding on resources than the human food model. The current study identifies improvements in practices that would make this contrast less stark, such as optimizing feeding practices, and the benefits of moving to a hybrid live pet food/human consumption business model. Conclusions: This is the first LCA of crickets reared in the UK. The results highlight inefficiencies in the rearing process that are now being addressed by the case study business. The study also shows the potential co-benefits of a hybrid business model, in which crickets for human consumption are produced alongside crickets for the live pet food market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Kosmos is the property of Polish Copernicus Society of Naturalists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Knowledge on entomophagy and culinary processing of edible insects has been found among the Bodo community as a part of tradition and culture, which was passed from one generation to another. The present study was aimed at finding the prevailing entomophagy and culinary processing of the insects among the Bodos of Chirang district of Assam. The study was done by interviewing people with semi-structured questionnaires. During discussion it was revealed that eating pupa of eri silkworm (Samia ricini) was the most common in their diet as rearing of S. ricini was common in Chirang district of Assam. Moreover, eating of giant water bug (Lethocerus indicus), field or burrowing crickets (Brachytrupes portentosus), and social wasp (Vespa magnifica) were found common in Chirang district. Along with the insects, a fresh water snail, Brotia costula and Pila globosa were also found to be practised by the community. The results in terms of culinary processing of insects and fresh water snails as practised by the Bodo community of Chirang district, Assam have been enlisted in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects are important bioresources as they supply numerous tangible and intangible benefits to humans. Day-to-day livings of many communities in the world are associated with insects as food, medicine, social beliefs, livelihood and other aspects. Many communities from immemorial time traditionally practice insects as food (entomophagy). People consumed insects for delicacy and nutritional purposes. However, some entomophagy species have medicinal value and many traditional healers used them for the treatment of various health ailments like sore throat, mouth ulcers, jaundice, body ache, wound healing, etc. In India, such traditions are widely practised in Northeast India more than other states of India. The focus of this research is on the traditional knowledge of entomophagy species having medicinal properties and social beliefs that are practised by the Tangkhul, Mao and Poumai ethnic community of Manipur, northeast region of India. Review literature was conducted through published journal paper, books and other electronic resources along with questioner's survey. The present study recorded nine entomophagy species and four species having social beliefs according to the local people. This traditional knowledge is inherent from generation to generation, and to conserve such precious indigenous knowledge, proper documentation is necessary. The documented information on the ethnic therapeutic knowledge of the important entomo-therapeutics species of the local community can be transferred to modern pharmacology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Insects have been identified as an alternative in the development of food systems and as a response to the growing demand for protein in the world. Edible insects have been recognized as an important innovation in the food sector. In the past, insects have been consumed in many cultures, and they are presently being introduced to Europe as a novel food and livestock. This article comprehensively reviews the use of edible insects in relation to their breeding, production technology, legal and socio-economic aspects. The role of food safety and legislation in implementing insects as food and feed is discussed. Moreover, the article introduces the breeding of edible insects as a developing and future-oriented business sector. In conclusion, the consumption of insects by humans and animals can significantly contribute to better diversification and security of the global food chain. The low acceptance of insect-based foods, in particular in Western societies, is an important problem that has been identified in this article. Consumer acceptance of insects as a rich source of nutrients is required for the further development of the sector. Consumer education and appropriate marketing strategies are required to promote the growth of the edible insect industry. Insects are increasingly being considered as an attractive source of protein that can cater to the growing demand for food around the world and promote the development of sustainable food systems. Commercial insect farms have been established in various countries, mainly in Asia, but in Europe, edible insects have not yet emerged as a viable alternative to traditional plant- and animal-based sources of protein. In this paper, we present an interdisciplinary overview of the technological aspects of edible insect farming in the context of the EU regulations and marketing. Based on a review of the literature, we have concluded that edible insect farming can be a viable business sector that significantly contributes to the overall sustainability of food systems if the appropriate regulations are introduced and food safety standards are guaranteed. However, the success of the edible insect industry also requires consumer acceptance of entomophagy, which is rather low in Western societies. Therefore, targeted marketing strategies are indispensable to support the implementation of edible insect programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an urgent need for alternative protein sources due to the rapid population growth, climate change, environmental degradation by pollution, food-fuel competition and the reduction in arable land for agricultural use. Conventional livestock production is also deleterious to the environment due to the production of greenhouse gasses and ammonia. This article provides insights into the potentials of edibleinsects as novel food ingredients. The manuscript provides concise explanations for the need of embracing additional protein sources, edibleinsects consumption and their nutritional benefits and environmental and economic advantages of using edibleinsects as food. Literature was gathered through an online search on the Science Direct database and Google Scholar, relevant papers published between January 2002 and November 2020 were cited. Edibleinsects are good source of essential nutrients. They are rich in proteins and essential amino acids, contain good quality lipids and significant amounts of important minerals. They are potential source of proteins for humans and animals. They can play an important role in global food security by providing essential nutrients to the increasing global population. This can only be achieved when more attention is given to their production and processing. Creating awareness among new consumers on their nutritional and environmental benefits and the development of food products with appealing sensory properties will surely improve their acceptance as food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Edible insects have emerged as a promising inexpensive option to address malnutrition among vulnerable groups in the world. However, it is not clear whether including insects in diets can improve health outcomes. This paper aimed to investigate the impact of edible insect consumption on human health.Design/methodology/approach A search was conducted in PubMed Central, BioMed Central, Plosone, Cochrane, Google Scholar, Google Search and bibliographies for all human studies on the impact of edible insect consumption on human health published from January 1990 to April 2018.Findings Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Consumption of cereals fortified with edible insects improved iron status and growth in infants and led to the development of life threatening anaphylactic reactions in sensitive people.Practical implications Edible insects are nutritious. More rigorous studies are needed to confirm nutrient bioavailability, acceptability and nutritional benefits in humans.Originality/value This review shows that the utilization of edible insects as food promotes desirable health outcomes, but caution must be taken to prevent allergic reactions in some cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sericulture was developed in China in ancient times. Antheraea pernyi Guérin-Méneville was domesticated at least 2,000 yr ago, and Chinese farmers developed artificial rearing of A. pernyi before the 17th century. Today, >60,000 tons of cocoons are produced in China each year, which accounts for 90% of the world production. Despite the widespread utilization of A. pernyi in China and a long history of domestic research, the knowledge of A. pernyi outside China is limited. Therefore, we have in this paper summarized the production, usage, and breeding of A. pernyi. The foremost usage of A. pernyi is as silk producers; however, about 55-70% is used for other purposes. In this paper, we give examples of how the different developmental stages are used as a food source for human consumption and in traditional Chinese medicine, both directly in different preparations and also as a nutrient source for rearing medicinal fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research in recent years has shown there is high potential for various insect species to converting organic substrates into high-quality feedstuffs. Insect-derived meal is increasingly being used to replace conventional feedstuffs such as soybean and fishmeal in animal diets, due to its high protein and essential amino acid content. However, research on consumer acceptance of foods derived from animals produced using insect-based meal is fragmented. A systematic literature review was carried out in Scopus, Web of Science, AgEcon, and Google Scholar, with a total of 28 articles meeting the selection criteria. Papers were reviewed to identify factors affecting consumer acceptance of insect-based feed. Key Findings and Conclusions: Overall, the review indicated that insects are more acceptable to consumers as an animal feedstuff than as human food. The most important factors influencing consumer evaluation of insect-based feed included risk perceptions, knowledge and heuristic cues. Ethical and environmental concerns also played a role in the decision-making process, but their effect on consumer acceptance of using insects in animal feed was less important. Food neophobia, disgust and uncertainties about safety and health, mainly deriving from lack of knowledge on the part of consumers, emerged as critical barriers to acceptance of insects in animal feed. Greater familiarity with the technology used for the production of insect meals could alleviate disgust and even lessen the impact of neophobia, although affective emotional reactions are unlikely to be changed by awareness and provision of information alone. Technological issues (including substrates and insect species) as well as price changes in the resulting animal-based foods are relevant factors that warrant further research in relation to consumer acceptance. • Proteins derived from insects is currently permitted in fish, poultry and pig feeds. • Insects as livestock feed are more acceptable than insects as human food ingredient. • Heuristic cues and risk perception play an important role in consumer acceptance. • Familiarity with technology might reduce disgust feeling and neophobia reactions. • Labelling on feed ingredients reduces information asymmetry and improves acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western European populations are being encouraged to reconsider their diets in light of population growth and the associated intensification of farming systems. In addition, health concerns associated with diets high in sugar, salt and saturated fat are stimulating interest in alternative foods. Including insects in human diets may be one option to help feed a growing population more sustainably, but it comes with its own challenges. This paper reflects on a pilot project introducing edible insects into primary and secondary schools in Wales, UK. Using Bakhtin's concept of the carnivalesque as a lens for reflection, the difficulties of introducing a novel food are considered and we provide an insight into how more sustainable, fringe practices may be framed in ways that allow them to be normalised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Engineering Sciences & Technologies / Nauki Inżynierskie i Technologie is the property of Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wroclawiu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Przeglad Prawa Rolnego is the property of Adam Mickiewicz University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Since time immemorial the Meitei community in the wetland ecosystems of Manipur valleys have been harvesting and consuming the edible insects. This paper brings out the diversity of the edible insects, traditional harvesting techniques, local food culture and its sustainability in the multi-use ecosystem of Loushi Pat basin in South Manipur. A total of thirty nine insect species were identified to be belonging to nineteen families and seven orders out of which thirty one are found to be edible. The edible insects consumed and sold are non-farmed and harvested from the wetlands. Harvesting and sale of the edible insects are largely done by local landless women from the local community. Understanding entomophagy and related livelihoods of the Loushi pat basin provides insights on sustainability of local livelihoods, vulnerabilities, food culture and ecology of modified wetlands in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global communities increasingly struggle to provide ample healthful food for growing populations in the face of social and environmental pressures. Insect agriculture is one underexplored and innovative approach. Sustainable cultivation of nutrient-dense edible insects could help boost food access, support human nutrition, and mitigate key drivers of climate change. The edible insects industry is in its nascent stages, as relatively few entities have committed resources towards optimizing farming methods. Nevertheless, insect farming is poised to benefit food insecure populations, and the planet as a whole if more targeted research and conducive policies are implemented. The purpose of this paper is to outline the state of the science regarding edible insects, define a research agenda, and recommend policy action to support the growing industry. Edible insects are not a panacea for current challenges, but they have the potential to confer numerous benefits to people and the environment. Rigorous research is needed to establish optimal farming methods, strengthen food safety, understand health impacts of consumption, explore consumer acceptance, tackle ethical considerations, and investigate economic viability. A clear definition for insects as food, industry guidance support for obtaining generally regarded as safe designation, and collaboration by industry stakeholders to develop production standards will also help move the industry forward. Generating and galvanizing knowledge sharing networks, investing in critical interdisciplinary research, and advocating for conducive policies that support emerging entrepreneurs will be necessary to capitalize on the benefits of edible insects in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Entomophagy can have an enormous environmental and nutritional impact on society. • Production of edible insect-based products could reach 260,000 tonnes by 2030. • Consumer willingness to buy and consume is still limited due to Western neophobia. • Food safety risks associated with entomophagy require further research. The potential use of edible insects as an alternative animal protein source has recently attracted a great deal of attention in Western countries. This is thanks to their numerous nutritional benefits, in particular in terms of vitamins and essential amino acids, and the need to guarantee food availability for the growing population. The aim of this scoping review is to analyse the current literature published in scientific journals regarding the main issues related to products containing edible insects, to map existing evidence and identify knowledge gaps. The information could serve as a guide for researchers and policy makers in the development of a sustainable innovative edible-insect farming business model. The PRISMA-ScR methodology was used to conduct this scoping review. The string of keywords was searched in three online databases and the screening process produced a total of 116 articles to be reviewed. These findings highlight the crucial issues concerning entomophagy that are currently under discussion, such as edible insect nutritional potential and functional properties, expected health benefits from consumption, consumer acceptability, and potential food safety issues that may arise. The study is limited by the number of databases referred to and by the consultation of papers written only in the English language. The available literature on insect-based food products revealed that edible insect consumption has the potential to bring about many benefits from an environmental, economic, and nutritional point of view. However, this industry faces many challenges in terms of difficulty in obtaining consumer willingness to buy insect-based products and the possibility of health and safety risks arising from their consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While insect-based foods could contribute towards sustainable protein consumption and production, their successful adoption relies largely on consumer acceptance. This case study aims to explore factors affecting acceptance and to identify the insect-based foods that participants would like to be developed and introduced to the market. Three focus groups incorporating optional tasting sessions of insect-based foods were conducted in Ireland, a country where these foods were unavailable at the time of the study. Findings showed that before the tasting sessions, public opinion, portion size comparisons (insects vs. meat), and witnessing entomophagy-related disturbing experiences through television were some of the factors that negatively influenced acceptance. Lack of availability in Ireland was the main factor that hindered consumption among participants willing to consume these foods. Participants' usual food choice motives, sensory attributes, and inclusion percentages of insects in food were some factors which affected acceptance following the tasting sessions. A variety of insect-based foods was suggested for product development, which were mostly components of a main meal. The findings of this study could give an initial indication of product ideas that could be explored further for product development in regions where insect-based foods are not readily available on the market. These findings could contribute to future studies that would aim to build quantitative tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial highlights the articles of the current issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization and scarce income-earning opportunities have led to increasing commercialization of non-timber forest products in southern Africa, including the nutritious mopane worm Imbrasia (=Gonimbrasia) belina. The mopane worm contributes substantially to incomes and food security in households across the region, but little research has addressed its use within South Africa. Using semi-structured interviews with harvesters and resource managers, this paper compares the management of mopane worm resources under public, private, and communal governance systems to explore the ability of each to provide users with sustainable access to the resource. Results show that governance is weaker in the communal property regime compared to the public and private property regimes. Weak control over access and high demand for mopane worms in urban and rural centres may be leading to a concentration of harvesting pressures in communally managed areas, increasing competition for a resource already scarce after years of drought and land-use change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in edible insects has increased greatly since the 2013 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization demonstrated that insects offer an appealing option for a more sustainable livestock alternative. However, overcoming the cultural bias against insect consumption is necessary in order to see widespread adoption. In order to overcome the bias, it is important to first understand it. There is not a simple answer as to why westerners do not eat insects, but using the United States as an example, this paper works to untangle the history that western culture has with insects as food; a history that is stained by the colonial exploitation of native peoples. Notions that insects are a 'primitive' food source and the strong disgust response they trigger can be traced back to the 15th century and Age of Exploration. These ideas have persisted because of the perpetuation of European imperial attitudes and the unconscious transfer of the disgust emotion from parents to offspring for many generations. Fortunately, continued outreach events that normalize insects as food, especially those open to families, will be helpful in reprogramming mindsets that have been deeply rooted in our culture for centuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ao Naga tribe inhabiting Mokokchung district of Nagaland, has a rich tradition of entomophagy. This paper explores their traditional knowledge and practice of entomophagy. Information on the mode of collection of the insects, cooking recipes, nutritional knowledge if any, allergies etc. were gathered using a questionnaire along with interviews of village elders, sellers and consumers. Eleven (11) edible insects species were identified out of which a few were found to be available all year-round, while some were reported to be available on a seasonal basis. In the present study, insects from coleoptera (2), hemiptera (3), hymenoptera (2), lepidoptera (3), and orthoptera (1) were identified. One species (Lepidoptera) was identified only to genus level, and another species (Hemiptera), was identified as an edible species for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: The consumption of insects "entomophagy" or insect‐based foods is increasingly being recognised as an emerging solution to promote diet diversification and address the multiple burden of malnutrition. Although several studies suggest edible insects as valuable nutrient sources, few have evaluated the effects of processing on nutrient bioavailability and bioaccessibility and provided actual evidence on human nutrition. Moreover, there is limited evidence of their actual contribution to improved food and nutrition security. Therefore, the review evaluated existing evidence on human interventions and the effects of processing methods on bioavailability and bioaccessibility of key nutrients since these directly influence food and nutrition security outcomes. Seven human efficacy studies have been conducted to date and these show limited observable effects on nutrition status therefore more research is required. Findings also suggest that the processing method, insect matrix, composition of the food matrix and interaction with other food components can influence nutrient bioavailability and bioaccessibility. Hence, these should be considered during formulation and upscaling for entomophagy and insect‐based foods to be viable intervention strategies against malnutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]