GREEiNSECT – Insects for green economy

project summary

Demand for animal protein in developing countries is predicted to double by 2050 putting pressure on protein sources for food and animal feed, such as soya and fish. More sustainable protein sources are urgently needed. Entomophagy – the consumption of insects as food - is traditionally practiced in many cultures, also in Africa, and is mainly carried out through harvesting the insects from the wild. However, the potential of insects as a protein source is still untapped, and the answer to unleashing their potential lies in domestication and large-scale production. Such an industry is still in its infancy, but is a high prospective new sector. Insects are highly efficient converters of food into body weight, are highly nutritious and are an environmentally friendly protein source. Insects can also live off waste streams that would otherwise not be consumed by humans. In Kenya, experimental domestication of termites and crickets has been initiated, while industrial production remains to be pioneered. GREEiNSECT will bring together a multidisciplinary consortium of public, private and international partners to research the potential of insects for food and´feed as an instrument in developing a pro-poor green economy in Kenya. The research will address small- to large-scale production practices; institutional framework for health risk and disease management; product development and consumer preferences of edible insect products; potential greenhouse gas emission impacts from production; potential government incentives through economic growth, nutritional contribution and business models for a novel industry. The outcomes of the project are knowledge and tools to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and employment related to insects as food and feed, along with supporting capacity building of Kenyan research institutions and public-private partnership. The knowledge generated by this consortium will be disseminated to national and international stakeholders.