Edible insect farming as an emerging and profitable enterprise in East Africa

• Published in: Current opinion in insect science Vol. 48; pp. 64 - 71
• Main Authors: Tanga, Chrysantus M, Egonyu, James P, Beesigamukama, Dennis, Niassy, Saliou, Emily, Kimathi, Magara, Henlay JO, Omuse, Evanson R, Subramanian, Sevgan, Ekesi, Sunday
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.12.2021
• Subjects: Agriculture; Animals; arable soils; business enterprises; circular economy; Climate; Eastern Africa; Edible Insects; income; Insecta; Nutritive Value; Eastern Africa
• ISSN: 2214-5745; 2214-5745; 2214-5753
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.09.007

•Insect farming is a novel and rapidly growing enterprise for protein and income in East Africa.•More than 80% of feed processors and farmers are willing to integrate insects in their livestock and fish feeds.•Over 65% of those consuming insects as food would prefer processed flour to whole insect products.•The economic viability of adopting insect-based protein is discussed. In East Africa, insect farming is a rapidly growing business providing access to ‘climate-smart’ protein, other nutrients, and income. With the continental drive to transform existing food systems that are becoming continuously unsustainable due to scarcity of arable land and water, and high ecological imprint, insect farming for food and feed with circular economy potential has gained remarkable interest. In this review, we report on the recent research trends on key substrates and insect species commonly farmed, map of commercial enterprises, insect nutritional values, processing techniques, marketing, regulatory framework, and lessons learnt on insect farming. These findings provide important answers to both technical and economic factors of insect farming and provide a clear roadmap for scaling these technologies in a phased approach through effective public-private partnerships offering interesting opportunities for implementing a circular food economy.