New insights into the emerging edible insect industry in Africa

Abstract

Insect farming for feed and food is rapidly expanding, with new registered farms emerging each day in Africa. Insects convert organic waste into multiple high-value market products (protein, oils, chitin/chitosan, frass fertilizer among others). Insect farming is highly profitable, and it benefits people of all ages and income levels. It contributes to improving food insecurity, creating jobs, and improving livelihoods, while reducing waste and protecting the environment. Promoting the development and harmonization of standards and conformity assessment along the edible insect-based value chain in Africa would ensure sustainability and safety of insect-derived products. Consumption of insects is an ancient practice that is common among many cultures with more than 2 billion people in 113 countries across the world practising entomophagy (van Huis, 2013). More than 2,000 species of edible insects have been recorded worldwide out of which 470 species occur in Africa (van Huis, 2013; Kelemu et al., 2015). The rapid growth in human population and increased demand of animal proteins has drawn more interest on the use of insects as food and feed to mitigate food insecurity and malnutrition (Kewuyemi et al., 2020; Babarinde et al., 2021). Edible insects have a rich profile of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins, and bioactive compounds that are essential for human health and nutrition (Zhou et al., 2022). Their high nutrient content, availability and low cost of production has increased their use as a substitute protein source in animal feed (van Huis et al., 2013; Tanga et al., 2021). The trade of edible insects is a big source of revenue with the global market for edible insects expected to reach $1.2 billion USD this year (Liceaga, 2021) Recent advances have led to the development of mass production units for insects as food and feed across the world; development of processed products and extraction of bioactive compounds for different uses (Liceaga, 2021; Meyer-Rochow et al., 2021; Tanga et al., 2021; Zhou et al., 2022). The industrialization of insect rearing yield large quantities of frass; as such the utilization of insect frass as fertilizer to enhance soil health and crop production is gaining momentum in the development of sustainable agriculture and circular economy (Poveda, 2021). In spite of the growing interest in the use of edible insects as food and feed, their uptake remains suboptimal due to seasonal availability of insects, low consumer acceptability, safety concerns and lack of legislation to govern the edible insect industry (Liceaga, 2021; Meyer-Rochow et al., 2021). The industrialization of edible insect production, commercial processing and product development remains limited in parts of the world including Africa. This review sought to establish new insights on the emerging insect industry in Africa. The review focused on identification of companies producing edible insects and production quantities; processing technologies, application of insect production, safety and legislative framework governing the insect industry in Africa. Figure 1 illustrates the use of mixed methods approach to generate evidence-based data on the emerging edible insect sector in Africa through in-depth literature review, mapping the status of insect farming companies, survey on production scale and collation of icipe’s experiences on edible insect research and their applications. Literature was sourced from internationally recommended online data bases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and Google scholar using the following search items: edible insect farming, production scale, edible insect processing techniques, nutritional composition, safety quality and application and legislation on edible insects in Africa. A total of 41 research articles most of which were review papers and two reports were included in the final analysis and synthesis of the report. A survey and mapping of companies were conducted through online interviews with different stakeholders involved in the production of edible insects across the continent. In addition, in-depth research and high-value products developed from research efforts also form part of this review. Schematic flow of the methodology for review of the status of the emerging insect-based enterprises in Africa. The launching of sensitization and awareness creation campaign by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), since 2013, to promote the domestication of insects as “Mini livestock” for food and feed (van Huis et al., 2013) have seen massive and continuous expansion of the enterprise in Africa. These insects are produced as alternative nutrient-rich biomass for direct human consumption, or as functional ingredients in feeds for livestock and fish (Babarinde et al., 2021). This new wave of emerging small-to-medium-to-large-scale insect farming represents an environmentally friendly way to reduce competition between human and animal nutrition by taking the pressure off soya bean, cotton seed cake, sunflower seed cake, fishmeal among other feed protein sources (Figure 2). The rapidly growing pressure to identify new alternative protein sources that are cheap, locally and readily available in the market, and of good quality has ignited remarkable interest in mass-producing farmed insects. This is clearly reflected in previous studies in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Benin, and other where farmers (poultry, fish, and pig farmers), feed traders and processors have shown significant motivation with over 80% of them demonstrating willingness to pay and integrate insect-derived protein in animal feed (Chia et al., 2020). Though high levels of acceptability have been reported in a few countries, African farmers are willing to adopt and farm insects. This underpins why the insect farming venture is expanding rapidly with many public and private sector partners are actively participating in the insect value chain. Illustration to demonstrate the replacement of major protein sources (fish, soya bean, and sunflower seeds) in animal feeds with insect protein to reduce competition between humans and animals on the limited food resources. Across Africa, the number of registered new private companies are growing each day, due to the large numbers of insect farmer base of locally available experts to guide new market entrants through training and provision of start-kits (eggs or 5-days old larvae) as the market rapidly expands and demand increases. Currently, the insect-based enterprises comprise of smallholder farmers, entrepreneurs (small-and-medium enterprises—SMEs), and large-scale insect farming companies. This strongly suggests that the industry will continue to grow and become more profitable, particularly to the youths and women that make up majority of the vulnerable population. Through mapping, it is established that approximately 2,300 active insect farms exist in the continent (Figure 3), with <2% considered as large-scale insect farms. Distribution of semidomesticated and domesticated edible insect species in Africa. Countries with white background have no insect farming activities and those shaded with maroon color have operationalized insect farms for food and feed. This list is by no means exhaustive because the actual number of insect farms in the 54 countries remains largely unknown beyond these estimates. So far, 14 farmed, or semifarmed insect species have been identified in Africa, particularly in Kenya with over 10 species. After the awareness campaign launched by FAO, many insect farms started emerging in 2013, which indicates that it is a relatively new business opportunity in Africa. Among the insects farmed in Africa, silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) farming is the oldest form practiced in Kenya, Madagascar and Ethiopia dating back 25–50 years ago (Verner et al. 2021). However, black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) is the fastest developing insect farming industry as shown in Figure 3. Our survey yielded fourteen insect species, which is consistent to that reported by Halloran et al. (2018), who demonstrated that approximately 18 insect species were suitable for intensive captive rearing (domestication) and upscaled production for animal feed or direct human consumption as food. (Verner et al. 2021) revealed that Kenya breeds approximately 17 edible insect species. Over 80% of the farmed insect species in Africa are produced for fish and livestock feed, while 15% for human consumption. On the other hand, only 5% of the farmed insects are used for both food and feed. The most popularly raised (>80%) edible insects include the black soldier fly, African palm weevil larvae, domestic silkworm (Bombyx mori), cricket species (Gryllus bimaculatus, Acheta domesticus, and Scapsipedus icipe) and mealworms (Africa lesser mealworm and the yellow mealworm). Contrarily to other Africa countries, other insects largely produced in Kenya include the garden fruit chafer, long-horned grasshopper, and the desert locust. However, the highest concentration of edible insect farms are located in East Africa, particularly, Kenya and Uganda. However, advanced research has demonstrated that some more suitable insect species might likely be identified as the case of Kenya (Scapsipedus icipe Hugel and Tanga) (Tanga et al., 2018) and Gryllus madagascariensis Walker in Madagascar (Borgerson et al., 2021). Farmed insects are deliberately selected for large-scale commercial production due to the following optimal characteristics such as relatively short and simple life cycle, shortest generation time, better taste, disease resilience, higher growth rates, increased productivity, increased feed efficiency, increased insect tolerance to and high nutritional a flow and increased to in the farming et al., More than 80% of the insects than two to their life to or and black soldier fly have the shortest growth to and edible The edible and cricket have the life cycle, which why are farmed and In Africa, over of the 2,300 insect species are considered edible et al., 2015). The 18 species suitable for farming and other animal production and enterprises of insect be in simple or On the other hand, all the insect farming or large These large-scale production are located in or to or to sources of of organic which is considered as In Africa, private sector is in an large-scale production and to the of insect particularly insect production companies and soldier fly and in insect-based proteins as feed reported from has between and in insect commercial farming These companies on black soldier with for of a of organic to nutrient-rich These include mixed animal waste such as or waste from or other as as human waste The companies use a different waste which are by the insect into multiple high-value and for in and in soil protein and The production of these companies from to of year (Tanga et al., 2021). that the of production of black soldier fly in Africa is year with to of feed of This will be of and producing from to on the direct application of the black soldier fly remains limited and Across the African most of the insect farms are rapidly their production and number of Over the these insect enterprises have such as of the youths and and these between 2 and people in each particularly from or most vulnerable of the including and or insect farming an opportunity to women and youths by their to livelihoods, them for all ages and income levels. insect farming and are in their many benefits a circular economy and is (Figure to et al. the feeds by 5% to insect-based in the commercial sector in Kenya would the availability of fish, soya bean, and that feed to These to reducing by to by to and of 2 to 18 of the would by 1 to 10 USD by reducing feed and fertilizer in Uganda, it is that the of protein sources with insect-based will generate benefits of USD billion in years billion and people the in the et al., 2022). These that is to promote insect-based for and sustainability (Figure Schematic of edible insect farming in Africa through a circular economy and to and and benefits of insect-based feeds in Our is by et al. who reported that each insect farming in Africa has the to generate protein up to billion and up to billion from of organic waste that is in Africa. is protein to up to of the protein to fish, and The studies also that through black soldier fly farming, the continent of feed production with black soldier fly protein to of organic of organic fertilizer production, and jobs, while of which is the of 18 from the However, only of this waste is and the in the human health and contributes to countries are to and to the use of and to and organic waste for through different advanced insect The of Insect and with the of the countries have strongly industrialization by insect farms up of simple locally processing waste and and women with and training on to the edible insect value chain. These for between insect farmers or from other countries to these and insect rearing and and disease and These efforts are in with and other research The or or to promote insect-based products through and to the public awareness on the insect value and benefits to the continent as a In Africa, edible insects are in or processed et al., 2021). is for quality safety and et al., 2021). methods or the nutrient and of edible and reduce and of edible insects et al., et al., 2020). insects are from the are to and the and are et al., 2021; Meyer-Rochow et al., 2021). The insects be into or et al., et al., 2020). Insects and are into food products or used in of et al., 2021; et al., 2021). More processing methods such as and pressure for protein and food and methods have been on edible insects et al., 2021; et al., 2021). However, most of these methods are in their be and for in Africa to enhance the extraction of products from edible insects. Edible insects are rich source of carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and Figure on the of edible insects in Africa from different The highest protein of edible insects from to 80% in and between and in and from in to in while the highest to in and and 2013; et al., 2020; Zhou et al., 2022). of edible insects the from animal and protein also all the essential which them a suitable alternative to the protein sources et al., 2020; Zhou et al., 2022). Insects high of and that are in improving health such as of and Zhou et al., 2022). of edible and animal protein sources in Africa Insects are in and which are essential in of humans and animals Insects are rich in and with high quantities of and recorded in and and 2013; et al., 2020; Zhou et al., 2022). The highest quantities of and have been reported in et al., 2020). of insects in be to the of and that is in and women of in Africa. and of different insect et al., 2020; and 2013; Zhou et al., Insects such as and high levels of and while higher of and occur in et al., 2020; Zhou et al., 2022). of and to health such as and growth it also for approximately (Zhou et al., 2022). of insects in health and the of that from Insects other such as and that in humans which from or consumption of insects et al., 2021). These be or and include in and et al., 2021). of edible insects be through different processing methods such as high pressure use of and (Kewuyemi et al., 2020; Zhou et al., 2022). However, some of these processing methods are in Africa. is for for of the edible species across Africa in to mitigate such (Babarinde et al., 2021). of the of different processing methods in the of edible insects is also to ensure their safety as food and feed. Edible insects a of some of which be to human and animals et al., from and that occur and processing et al., More than and 10 of and have been from and mass edible insects et al., of the species are to both human and and that be et al., 2021; et al., 2022). is of data on with edible insects in such has been demonstrated the continent. A of and and and have been from edible insects et al., In spite of this of edible insects for in Africa limited safety concerns following their consumption. such as and bioactive have been reported in edible insects in Africa et al., et al., of edible insects from consumption of and and from in (van Huis et al., 2013; Meyer-Rochow et al., 2021). and such as and among have been reported in Africa et al., in large these have which to along the food chain which into health such as and in and et al., This for the for of of edible insects with in where of is to such Edible insects such as and such as and from in their et al., et al., These a in with feed uptake of and growth of animals while some of them be in large quantities and et al., Meyer-Rochow et al., 2021). The of high levels of in edible insects for their to the of their is also for more research on the or of quantities of in edible insects. that this be through of feed, of in mass rearing units and processing through and extraction of et al., insects such as and bioactive compounds which them consumption insects such as and Consumption of such insects into health in are to that is with in human et al., et al., Consumption of edible insects such as of their into due to and This from the of large and that (van Huis, 2013; and be by processing to the parts and of insects into The most species of edible insects in Africa to the and and et al., Babarinde et al., 2021). The insects are of their and form part of a or on their seasonal availability (van Huis, 2013). Edible insects are also used as or for with species such as and in the production processed food products such as and as a way of consumer acceptability et al., et al., Edible proteins have been as to a of products such as and in the et al., 2021). In spite of limited on the use of insects as in production of such products in Africa. This an opportunity that be to alternative sources of animal proteins to food The demand and high cost of animal feed and feed ingredients for alternative sources of animal feed (van Huis, 2013; Insects have nutrient to the nutritional of domesticated animals and be to substitute protein sources in animal feed (van Huis et al., 2013; et al., et al., production of black soldier fly in Africa is of protein which is to substitute and fish in animal feed (Tanga et al., 2021). insects species used in the production of animal feed include common yellow and (van Huis, 2020). The use of insects as animal feed has been reported in countries in Africa including Africa, of Benin, and et al., rearing of edible insects on organic waste has been reported to yield large quantities of frass that a source of organic fertilizer that be in the development of sustainable agriculture and circular economy (Poveda, 2021). This into organic fertilizer is an emerging of research and business with high in Africa. The emerging products and their application are and environmentally friendly that soil crop and and Though this has limited research icipe has frass fertilizer products to different production product uptake by private sector partners for and fertilizer and food in the continent. The benefits of frass fertilizer of to the of and that enhance growth and increased tolerance to and to and (Poveda, 2021; et al., 2022). fertilizer from different insect species have been reported to quantities and concentration of for soil and crop productivity, them an alternative to organic and et al., 2022). The the of Insect and has developed over 10 different frass fertilizer products available in and using insect-based (Figure the of and in frass fertilizer products has been shown to be to higher than commercial organic fertilizer (Figure However, studies to generate evidence-based data on their benefits in growth and from on crop nutritional and disease or as as soil health are of insect frass fertilizer production to production and of insect frass fertilizer quality over commercial organic studies have revealed significant in crop growth and (Figure to those on or with commercial organic and farmers using insect frass fertilizer have been reported to significant of up to with high protein to and for on and nutrient of using different insect frass are in Africa the lack of and quality have a continuous in crop a large of farmers into and food have demonstrated the of frass to of and fly and disease on frass fertilizer have shown to and of and and (Figure are that from to the soil was with frass which an that of et al., The high of frass fertilizer to reduce the and of crop such as and farming has been et al., 2022). This that organic fertilizer has the to and while the activities of soil and soil that are in nutrient and these evidence-based data to guide the of frass fertilizer into the to disease and crop to a of insect frass fertilizer on crop yield to commercial organic and as as of fertilizer in common and in Africa. Insects are as source of bioactive compounds such as and which be due to their et al., 2020). The of over edible insect species et al., reported in Africa such as black soldier fly, lesser yellow desert palm among are to bioactive with significant and of pressure and of and (Zhou et al., 2022). These be for use due to their has been to the of bioactive compounds from edible insects on human and animal health (Babarinde et al., 2021). The of and on edible value chain in Africa is to ensure sustainability and safety for and the et al., 2022). However, on the utilization of insects as food and feed in many countries are et al., 2020; et al., 2022). of food safety on edible insects has been by a of such as limited with on food safety and quality of and standards and global lack of large-scale production of insects to and the growing demand by the food and feed low quantities of insects limited data on safety and to assessment and of food safety (van Huis, 2013; et al., 2022). It is that the governing edible insects across the continent are with each with high concerns on the the in the it is to market edible insects due to the of in the different countries et al., et al., et al. reported that the lack of legislation on edible insect farming, consumption, and in majority of the countries has the development of insect-based enterprises and their to the nutrition and health of humans and many countries the African continent are efforts and developing standards on insect-derived particularly in the United the the of Africa Uganda, Rwanda, and in United and and et al., et al., 2020; et al., 2021). Currently, the of Insect and and the African Organization for have established a to promote the development and harmonization of standards and conformity assessment for edible insect-derived products in Africa as the availability and of insect farming, consumption, and development of high-value products to The of insect farming is growing an the to the animal feed and human food market is of edible insects for food and feed remains a major research on the of bioactive compounds from edible insects on human health is largely and of edible insects to be for human and animal Insect frass product from insect farming is up and for up for soil health and increased crop are in their and Countries Kenya and that have developed new or to new insect farming is the The emerging sector has of in the private sector and for insect farmers and who are in the insect-based The have no of The the for this research by the following and for the the Food for the for and higher number the for the the for and the for the of Ethiopia and the of the of The no in data and to or of the The the of the in this are included in the and be by the would to all the of for their and which was in to the of this Tanga is a and of the Insects for and Tanga a in from the of Africa. has over 10 years of in and of on insects for feed, and frass fertilizer in Africa and is involved in global on edible insects across in countries from research include edible insect circular of edible insects, of frass and women development and harmonization of standards and on edible insects. has over research and has internationally on edible insects. is with in is a in Food and Agriculture with on production and utilization of edible insects. an and both from was involved in of research on and is and of mass production of edible insects to enhance food and the of is also on the of and into food to nutrition and health among women and is also a where in

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