Producing sufficient protein to feed our growing population is a global challenge that will not be met using current food sources alone. Currently the dominant protein sources in the western world have high environmental and production costs. In contrast, eating insects promises significant health, cultural and environmental benefits. Entomophagy is an emerging, rapid growth market in Europe, and the USA, however, Australia lags behind with only a handful of early adopting local industries farming insects, even though eating insects has a long tradition in Australia. In August 2019, we held the 'Developing Australia’s edible insect research and industry to improve environmental, health and cultural outcomes" symposium in Brisbane. We brought together leading scientific and traditional knowledge of native Australian edible insects. The purpose of the symposium was to promote their inclusion in our diet, and drive commercialisation opportunities. During the symposium we identified the research priorities of edible insects in four major topics: culture, environmental benefits, health and diet and commercialisation. In this talk we will present our findings, including a roadmap to farming novel Australian insect species and implementing insect-derived protein into our diet.

Black soldier fly (BSF) is a nutritious feed component for livestock with high protein levels. BSF can be reared on a wide range of organic residual streams. This allows for local production within a circular agriculture, decoupling livestock production from import of expensive feed components such as fishmeal or soymeal. Rearing of BSF can be done by smallholder farmers, thus contributing to their livelihood, economic sustainability and social status. Smallholder farmers contribute importantly to food security, which is a prerequisite for a stable society. In countries recovering from conflict, agricultural development should focus on restoring food production by smallholder farmers, improving their socio-economic position, thereby contributing to sustainable development goal 16 (SDG16, peace and justice). In the last sixty years, Colombia has been involved in an armed conflict that officially ended in 2016 with the signing of the peace agreement after four years of negotiations between the Colombian government and The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP). Therefore, supporting agricultural projects and strengthening institution building and food security has become an imperative issue, where academia has a major role. Here, we present how BSF can be a sustainable fish feed to reduce the costs of commercial feed used in the production of tilapia and an example of reintegration of ex-combatants as smallholder insect producers in post-conflict Colombia.

This contribution demonstrates that tailoring innovations toward trapping edible insects which double as pests is advantageous in sustainable prevention of crop losses as well as providing insects for human consumption, animal feed and other uses.

Antropoentomophagy in Mexico, historical research, field research, colections, culture and perspectives.

Inventory of consumed species in Africa and their nutritional composition

Edible insects are valuable alternative sources of animal protein for Zambia’s low income and rural population. Roasted winged termites (Macrotermes falciger) were nutritionally evaluated with a view to revealing any possibility of its use for the formulation of new food/feed products as possible means of combating malnutrition. Minimum Size of Lab Sample of 2kg of dry roasted termites was collected from Lusaka and used for proximate, mineral, vitamin and fatty acid composition. The termite samples were analyzed according to official methods of analysis recommended by the Association of Official and Analytical Chemist (AOAC).Results obtained from roasted Macrotermes falciger showed that the carbohydrate content, crude protein and lipid content were high. The ash content (5.7%), moisture (6.0 %) crude fiber2.2) were low. Major macrominerals were potassium and sodium, while the microminerals were iron, zinc, manganese,magnesium and selenium. The samples contained high amounts of vitamins C, and A. The high fat content of the termite was made up mainly of unsaturated fatty acids (60.3%).These values suggest that the winged termite, Macrotermis falciger has nutritional and pharmaceutical. The above results suggest that the winged termite, Macrotermis falciger has nutritional potential and can be used to combat protein energy related malnutrition prevalent in Zambia if used as part of complementary foods.