scholarly journals Advancing edible insects as food and feed in a circular economy

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 935-948
Author(s):  
A. van Huis ◽  
B.A. Rumpold ◽  
H.J. van der Fels-Klerx ◽  
J.K. Tomberlin
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Value Change ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks ◽  
Unique Aspect ◽  
Biological Contaminants ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Insects As Food

An overview is given of the special issue on edible insects covering a number of aspects along the value change. The articles presented cover topics about producing insects both as food for humans and feed for animals, ranging from environmental impact, facility design, (left-over) substrates, the role of microbes, genetics, diseases, nutrition, to insect welfare. Possible health benefits of insects for humans and animals are discussed as well as the potential dangers in terms of allergies and chemical/biological contaminants. Regulatory frameworks are examined and assessed for remaining obstacles. The technologies dealing with the processing and extraction of proteins, lipids, and chitin were also reviewed. Consumers’ perception of insect-derived food products is discussed as well. A unique aspect of this special issue within the ‘Journal of Insects as Food and Feed’ is a first attempt to discuss the economics of the industry. The special issue concludes with a discussion of policy and challenges facing the sector.

scholarly journals Introducing the special issue: ‘Advancement of insects as food and feed in a circular economy’

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 495-497
Author(s):  
A. van Huis ◽  
B.A. Rumpold ◽  
H.J. van der Fels-Klerx ◽  
J.K. Tomberlin
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Insects As Food

scholarly journals The role of edible insects to mitigate challenges for sustainability

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-36
Author(s):  
Raquel P. F. Guiné ◽  
Paula Correia ◽  
Catarina Coelho ◽  
Cristina A. Costa
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
World Population ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Strong Component ◽  
Human Food ◽  
The World ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Recent Trends

Abstract This review is focused on the utilization of insects as a new opportunity in food and feed products, including their commercialization both in traditional and new markets. It has been suggested that insects are considerably more sustainable when compared with other sources of animal protein, thus alleviating the pressure over the environment and the planet facing the necessity to feed the world population, constantly increasing. Many chefs have adhered to the trend of using insects in their culinary preparations, bringing insects to the plan of top gastronomy, highlighting their organoleptic qualities allied to a recognized high nutritional value. However, in some markets, insects or insect-based products are not readily accepted because of neophobia and disgust. Moreover, the insect markets, farming, and commercialization are experiencing a huge growth, in which the domain of animal feed is undoubtedly a very strong component. The future of insects as human food and animal feed seems promising in view of the recent trends and challenges.

scholarly journals Underutilised Resources in Urban Environments

Resources ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sigrid Kusch-Brandt
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Household Waste ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks ◽  
Sound Management

An important opportunity for more sustainable development pathways in an urbanising world is missed where resources remain underutilised, when they could be valorised in a sound and environmentally favourable mode. This Special Issue of the journal Resources was initiated to identify promising solutions and specific challenges in the context of underutilised resources in urban environments. The compiled contributions address two main areas, namely the establishment of circular economy schemes based on valorising wastes that occur in urban areas and the exploitation of renewable energies. Circular economy and renewable resources hold key potential for making cities more sustainable, and the authors of this Special Issue, with their publications, enhance our understanding of how to unlock this potential. Effective regulatory frameworks and policymaking processes which balance the powers between stakeholders are required to successfully manage energy transition and the transition to more circular economies. The positive role of community engagement merits high attention. To recover valuable resources from household waste, a focus on technology and infrastructure is required but is not enough; motivational factors and knowledge of citizens are most essential elements. It also becomes evident that the need to more reliably quantify and better characterise recyclable material streams, especially where population numbers are further growing, remains. The publications compiled in this Special Issue are a rich source to identify promising solutions, challenges and research needed for the sound management of urban resource demands.

Mini Livestock Ranching

2017 ◽  
pp. 188-212
Author(s):  
Dimple Singh-Ackbarali ◽  
Rohanie Maharaj
Keyword(s):  
Value Added ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Insect Species ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Protein Food ◽  
Small Areas ◽  
Edible Insect ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Insects As Food ◽  
Nutritional Profiles

The rising demand and cost of animal protein, food and feed insecurity, environmental and climatic challenges of livestock agriculture have made the option of insects as food sources a viable topic. This chapter presents existing information and research on edible insects, insect farms and value-added insect products and assesses insects as a potential source of food and feed. Mini livestock ranching where edible insect species are reared, can reduce some of the negative environmental effects of livestock agriculture as it will produce significantly less greenhouse gas emissions compared with traditional livestock and have similar nutritional profiles. Edible insect species also; have a much lower feed to meat ratio, require small areas of land and have an almost negligible water requirement. There is an untapped potential to increase access to this nutritious, climate-smart food via intensified semi-cultivation and raising insects in farming environments, developing value added products and also a potential for a significant source of income.

Edible insects in the Adamawa and eastern regions of Cameroon: collection, processing and consumption

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
K.M.L. Djouffa ◽  
C. Saïdou ◽  
A. Ali ◽  
B.A. Mohammadou ◽  
C. Tchiegang
Keyword(s):  
Forest Products ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Termite Mounds ◽  
Host Trees ◽  
Gradual Disappearance ◽  
Non Timber Forest Products ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Harvesting Techniques ◽  
Insects As Food ◽  
Descriptive Survey

The exploitation of non-timber forest products including edible insects plays an important role in the food habits of the Cameroon population and in particular those of the Adamawa and eastern regions. Although the consumption of insects in these areas is an ancient practice, there is a dearth of information concerning their diversity, availability and their modes of consumption. In order to develop the potential of insects as food and feed, a descriptive survey was carried out with 584 people in nine divisions of the two regions, to collect quantitative and qualitative information on their knowledge and different uses of insects. Thirty-one regularly consumed insect species belonging to the order of Isoptera (19.35%), Orthoptera (19.35%), Lepidoptera (54.90%) and Coleoptera (6.45%) were recorded. Inadequate harvesting practices such as slash-and-burn agriculture, destruction of termite mounds, logging and cutting down host trees when capturing caterpillars were recognised as the main causes of the scarcity of insects currently observed in these regions. The consumption of insects depends on religion and ethnic. It is a taboo among Muslims. Apart from 1.11% of insects consumed raw, boiling (15.74%), sun drying (17.79%), frying (29.95%), grilling (28.88%), roasting on coals (6.53%) are the different culinary treatments commonly used by women who constitute the main actors (75%) in this sector. This diversity of edible insects in these areas could be a potential to develop in the fight against malnutrition, but the harvesting techniques applied contribute to their gradual disappearance.

Raising a glass to clean water

2002 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 2N-6N
Author(s):  
Mike Sharpe
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Environmental Analysis ◽  
Drinking Water Quality ◽  
Clean Water ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Future Evolution ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks ◽  
The Us

For this special issue on drinking water quality, Focus takes a look at the regulatory frameworks for drinking water in Europe and the US and the role of environmental analysis in their future evolution.

The nutritional role of insects as food: a case study of ‘chitoumou’ (Cirina butyrospermi), an edible caterpillar in rural Burkina Faso

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Cox ◽  
C. Payne ◽  
A. Badolo ◽  
R. Attenborough ◽  
C. Milbank
Keyword(s):  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Cooking Process ◽  
Insects As Food ◽  
Few Data ◽  
Dietary Data

Insects are frequently promoted as a nutritious food. Yet they are a diverse class, and few data are available on their dietary role. In this paper, we present novel data on the nutritional role of ‘chitoumou’, the edible caterpillar Cirina butyrospermi, in the diet of rural smallholder farmers in southwestern Burkina Faso. We collected detailed dietary data via 24-h recall interviews (n=64), which we conducted with women who were predominantly responsible for making decisions on food preparation for their households (n=16) during and out of caterpillar season. We found that ethnicity did not predict caterpillar consumption. Diets that contained caterpillars were richer in protein (P<0.05) and calcium (P<0.05), key nutrients for combating malnutrition in this region. We conclude that edible insects play an important nutritional role among smallholder communities in southwestern Burkina Faso, but that more data are required to confirm the bioavailability of nutrients found in caterpillars, the effect of the cooking process on caterpillar nutritional quality and consequent health outcomes for people that consume them. To inform policy and the way in which insects are promoted as food, it is imperative that further research is done to quantify the nutritional role of edible insects in current human diets.

Insects as food and feed in the Asia Pacific region: current perspectives and future directions

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.L. Yen
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Asia Pacific Region ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Insects As Food

Western cultures currently struggle to have insects accepted as a human food. This barrier is not as high in many parts of the Asia Pacific region because entomophagy is (or was until recent times) a part of their accepted diets. The region is comprised of many different cultural groups and the degree to which they embraced entomophagy has been determined by dietary needs, cultural considerations, and the availability of insects. While entomophagy has decreased in westernised societies, the demand for edible insects has increased in parts of Asia in association with rising standards of living. An assessment of the use of insects as food and feed in the Asia Pacific region is provided and important knowledge gaps are identified. Edible insects are sourced by three main strategies: wild harvesting, semi-domestication of insects in the wild, and farming. Semi-domestication and farming have the potential to provide a more sustainable food supply, but globally 92% of species are wild harvested. The harvested insects come from all trophic levels, although most of the terrestrial edible insect species are herbivores and most species of edible aquatic species are predators. The increased demand for edible insects puts pressure on the source populations because new technologies are now used to harvest insects more efficiently and to store them safely for longer periods, facilitating the harvesting of greater amounts of insects. This, in combination with either loss of natural habitats or changes to the environment, puts even more pressure on insect populations. The over harvesting of edible insects from different trophic levels could have long term adverse implications for ecosystem processes in Asia Pacific and other regions.

scholarly journals Insects as food and feed: European perspectives on recent research and future priorities

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 269-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.L.R. Payne ◽  
D. Dobermann ◽  
A. Forkes ◽  
J. House ◽  
J. Josephs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Consumer Acceptance ◽  
Urban Setting ◽  
Food Culture ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Insects As Food

This paper discusses the current state and priorities of Europe-based research on insects as food and feed, based on presentations at a workshop held in December 2015, and discussions that followed. We divide research into studies that focus on farming, health and nutrition, and those that prioritise psychological, social and political concerns. Edible insects are not necessarily universally beneficial. However, certain food insects can convert organic waste material, and provide nutrient-rich protein for humans and animals. Recent research is not concordant when trying to identify social and psychological barriers to insects as food in Europe, indicating the complexity of the issue of consumer acceptance. Innovative means of marketing insects as food include 3D printing, scientific comics, and the promotion of rural food culture in an urban setting. Edible insects are intimately connected to strong cultural and regional values, and their increasing commercialisation may empower and/or disenfranchise those who hold such values. We conclude with a discussion about the future priorities of edible insect research in Europe. We acknowledge the political nature of the ‘entomophagy’ movement. With legislative change, the insect food industry potential presents an opportunity to challenge the dynamics of current food systems. We identify the following priorities for future research: the need to better understand environmental impacts of insect procurement on both a regional and global scale, to investigate factors affecting the safety and quality of insect foods, to acknowledge the complexity of consumer acceptance, and to monitor the social and economic impacts of this growing industry.

scholarly journals Biological contaminants in insects as food and feed

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
D. Vandeweyer ◽  
J. De Smet ◽  
N. Van Looveren ◽  
L. Van Campenhout
Keyword(s):  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Monitoring And Control ◽  
Microbiological Methods ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Biological Contaminants ◽  
Food And Feed

During the last decade, edible insects have successfully taken a meaningful position in the feed and food chain. To expand this position, product safety continuously needs to be warranted. This review focuses on the current knowledge and the future challenges on the prevalence of human foodborne pathogens in edible insects. The top three of the bacterial pathogens associated with insects for food are Staphylococcus aureus, pathogenic Clostridium spp. and pathogenic species of the Bacillus cereus group. Less is known about other types of biological contaminants, the fungi, viruses, protozoa and prions. For insects for feed, even less reports on pathogens are available so far, although the microbiota of Hermetia illucens is increasingly being studied in the latest years. In addition to the evaluation of endogenous microorganisms in insects, an overview is given of inoculation experiments to study the fate of specific food pathogens during rearing. Future challenges that are identified mainly relate to the fact that risk assessments directed to specific insect species are needed. Also, more research data are needed on the microbiological quality of substrates and residue, in connection with decontamination treatments. The house flora of rearing facilities has not been investigated before. The insect supply chain can generate insights in the microbiological quality of the integral chain by implementing exhaustive sampling plans and by applying predictive microbiology. Additionally, microbiological methods used in research and quality control require standardisation. Rather unexplored so far is the unculturable fraction of the insect microbial community and its importance in food safety. Last but not least, the most important microbiological challenge may well be situated in the further development of the sector: upscaling in terms of capacity and number of companies will increase the complexity of the sector. That will have implications for monitoring and control of biological contaminants.

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