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An Insight into the Level of Information about Sustainability of Edible Insects in a Traditionally Non-Insect-Eating Country: Exploratory Study

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  • Raquel P. F. Guiné

    (Agrarian School of Viseu, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, 3500-606 Viseu, Portugal
    CERNAS Research Centre, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal)

  • Sofia G. Florença

    (Agrarian School of Viseu, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, 3500-606 Viseu, Portugal
    Faculty of Food and Nutrition Sciences, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal)

  • Ofélia Anjos

    (School of Agriculture, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, 6001-909 Castelo Branco, Portugal
    Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
    Centro de Biotecnologia de Plantas da Beira Interior, 6001-909 Castelo Branco, Portugal)

  • Paula M. R. Correia

    (Agrarian School of Viseu, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, 3500-606 Viseu, Portugal
    CERNAS Research Centre, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal)

  • Bruno M. Ferreira

    (School of Technology and Management of Viseu, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal)

  • Cristina A. Costa

    (Agrarian School of Viseu, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, 3500-606 Viseu, Portugal
    CERNAS Research Centre, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal)

Abstract

Insects have been reported as a possible alternative solution to help feed the growing world population with less stress on the planet, thus contributing to the preservation of the environment and natural ecosystems. However, the consumption of edible insects (EIs), although culturally accepted for some communities, is not readily accepted for others. Hence this work explores the level of information that people in a traditionally non-insect-eating country have about the sustainability issues related with EIs, and also some possible reasons that could motivate their consumption. The study was based on a questionnaire survey and the results were explored by descriptive statistic tools, tree classification analysis, factor analysis and cluster analysis. The results showed that the level of information is still low in general, with most people not manifesting an opinion. However, some aspects are relatively familiar to the participants (88.9% know that the ecological footprint of insects is smaller than other meats and 86.9% know that they efficiently convert organic matter into protein). Factor and cluster analysis showed three classes: cluster 1—people not informed about the facts disclosed through the true statements and also not able to distinguish the false information; cluster 2—people not informed about the facts disclosed through the true statements but who were able to distinguish the false information; and cluster 3—people well informed about the facts disclosed through the true statements but who were marginally unable to distinguish the false information. It was also found that education, sex and professional area are the most relevant sociodemographic factors associated with the level of information, and the highest motivations to consume EIs are their contribution to preserve the environment and natural resources followed by being a more sustainable option (for 64.7% and 53.4% of participants, respectively). Hence it was concluded that, although some work still needs to be done to better inform people about EIs, there is already some conscientiousness that they constitute a good and more sustainable alternative to other types of meat.

Suggested Citation

  • Raquel P. F. Guiné & Sofia G. Florença & Ofélia Anjos & Paula M. R. Correia & Bruno M. Ferreira & Cristina A. Costa, 2021. "An Insight into the Level of Information about Sustainability of Edible Insects in a Traditionally Non-Insect-Eating Country: Exploratory Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-20, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:21:p:12014-:d:668739
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Menozzi, Davide & Mora, Cristina & Sogari, Giovanni, 2019. "Edible Insects in the Food Sector: Methods, Current Applications and Perspective," 2019 Eighth AIEAA Conference, June 13-14, Pistoia, Italy 300915, Italian Association of Agricultural and Applied Economics (AIEAA).
    2. Vaclav Smil, 2002. "Eating Meat: Evolution, Patterns, and Consequences," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 28(4), pages 599-639, December.
    3. Raquel P. F. Guiné & Elena Bartkiene & Sofia G. Florença & Ilija Djekić & Maša Černelič Bizjak & Monica Tarcea & Marcela Leal & Vanessa Ferreira & Ivana Rumbak & Panagiotis Orfanos & Viktória Szűcs & , 2021. "Environmental Issues as Drivers for Food Choice: Study from a Multinational Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-18, March.
    4. Brian Machovina & Kenneth J. Feeley, 2014. "Livestock: limit red meat consumption," Nature, Nature, vol. 508(7495), pages 186-186, April.
    5. Céline Gallen & Gaëlle Pantin-Sohier & Dominique Peyrat-Guillard, 2021. "Familiarisation et diffusion de l’entomophagie en France," Innovations, De Boeck Université, vol. 0(1), pages 153-182.
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    Cited by:

    1. Katarzyna Mazur-Włodarczyk & Agnieszka Gruszecka-Kosowska, 2022. "Sustainable or Not? Insights on the Consumption of Animal Products in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-23, October.
    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.
    3. Dimitris Skalkos, 2022. "Innovative Agrifood Supply Chain in the Post-COVID 19 Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-4, April.

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