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Edible Insects Consumption in Africa towards Environmental Health and Sustainable Food Systems: A Bibliometric Study

Author

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  • Newton R. Matandirotya

    (Department of Geosciences, Faculty of Science, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6000, South Africa
    Centre for Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience, Kgotso Development Trust, Beitbridge P.O. Box 5, Zimbabwe)

  • Walter Leal Filho

    (Research and Transfer Centre “Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management”, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Ulmenliet 20, D-21033 Hamburg, Germany
    Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK)

  • Gaathier Mahed

    (Department of Geosciences, Faculty of Science, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6000, South Africa)

  • Basil Maseko

    (Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Midlands State University, Gweru Private Bag 9055, Zimbabwe)

  • Cleophas V. Murandu

    (National Anglican Theological College of Zimbabwe, 11 Thornburg Avenue, Mount Pleasant, Harare Private Bag 2503, Zimbabwe)

Abstract

Africa is home to an estimated wild edible insect population of 1000 species that offer an opportunity for sustainable food systems while also improving food and nutrition security on the continent. Edible insect consumption has been part of African communities for a long time and forms part of their diets and cuisines, particularly within low-income households with limited resources. The purpose of our study was to investigate and review the contribution that edible insects can make towards the realisation of sustainable food systems, and environmental/planetary health including the fulfilment of Sustainable Development Goal number 2 (zero hunger). Our study applied a bibliometric analysis approach using VOS Viewer, a data mining software. The study established that the consumption of edible insects is still widespread across many African countries and therefore can be used as an avenue for improving environmental health and enhancing food systems on the continent through a reduction in meat-based diets. This, in the long term, will also reduce the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane from livestock production-related activities. Edible insects are also known to contain a high percentage nutrient content of proteins, fats and iron and, thus, can also play a vital role in reducing food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly within low-income households. Due to the existence of a high number of edible insect species on the continent, communities in Africa can easily access sources that can further be preserved using various indigenous techniques while also having minimal impact on the environment. In addition, being a source of nutritious food, edible insects can also be a source of establishing sustainable livelihoods, as well as being able to be commercialised, thus further creating employment opportunities and economic growth. Some of the notable edible insects in abundance on the continent include termites, ants, crickets and caterpillars. Our study recommends that Africa should commercialise edible insect production, in addition to preservation processing that leads to the eradication of perennial food insecurity and malnutrition and improves environmental health, as well as developing sustainable food systems. We also further recommend the establishment of food safety guidelines on edible insects as most African countries do not have such a plan in place currently.

Suggested Citation

  • Newton R. Matandirotya & Walter Leal Filho & Gaathier Mahed & Basil Maseko & Cleophas V. Murandu, 2022. "Edible Insects Consumption in Africa towards Environmental Health and Sustainable Food Systems: A Bibliometric Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-17, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:22:p:14823-:d:969403
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jinsoo Hwang & Jinkyung-Jenny Kim, 2021. "Edible Insects: How to Increase the Sustainable Consumption Behavior among Restaurant Consumers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-16, June.
    2. Nees Jan Eck & Ludo Waltman, 2010. "Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 84(2), pages 523-538, August.
    3. Charlotte L. R. Payne & Athanase Badolo & Sioned Cox & Bakary Sagnon & Darja Dobermann & Charlotte Milbank & Pete Scarborough & Antoine Sanon & Fernand Bationo & Andrew Balmford, 2020. "The contribution of ‘chitoumou’, the edible caterpillar Cirina butyrospermi, to the food security of smallholder farmers in southwestern Burkina Faso," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(1), pages 221-234, February.
    4. Faith A. Manditsera & Catriona M. M. Lakemond & Vincenzo Fogliano & Cuthbert J. Zvidzai & Pieternel A. Luning, 2018. "Consumption patterns of edible insects in rural and urban areas of Zimbabwe: taste, nutritional value and availability are key elements for keeping the insect eating habit," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(3), pages 561-570, June.
    5. Leonor Rodríguez & Elsa Cervantes & Rocío Ortiz, 2011. "Malnutrition and Gastrointestinal and Respiratory Infections in Children: A Public Health Problem," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-32, April.
    6. Huchang Liao & Ming Tang & Li Luo & Chunyang Li & Francisco Chiclana & Xiao-Jun Zeng, 2018. "A Bibliometric Analysis and Visualization of Medical Big Data Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kristia Kristia & Sándor Kovács & Zoltán Bács & Mohammad Fazle Rabbi, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Sustainable Food Consumption: Historical Evolution, Dominant Topics and Trends," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-24, June.
    2. Raquel P. F. Guiné & Sofia G. Florença & Cristina A. Costa & Paula M. R. Correia & Manuela Ferreira & Ana P. Cardoso & Sofia Campos & Ofélia Anjos & Cristina Chuck-Hernández & Marijana Matek Sarić & I, 2022. "Investigation of the Level of Knowledge in Different Countries about Edible Insects: Cluster Segmentation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-19, December.

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