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Edible Insects in Sustainable Food Systems

  • Takes a multi-disciplinary approach to analyzing how insects contribute to food systems around the world

  • Includes unique research on edible insects from Asia, Europe, North America and Africa

  • Features state-of-the-art research on farmed, semi-cultivated and wild insect species

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Table of contents (30 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvii
  2. Introduction to Insects

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. Insects: Key Biological Features

      • Jørgen Eilenberg, Joop J. A. van Loon
      Pages 3-15
  3. Culture

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 17-17
    2. Insect Consumption in the Arctic

      • Maria Pontes Ferreira, Alain Cuerrier, Marjolaine Giroux, Christian H. Norton
      Pages 19-33
    3. An Ethnographic Account of the Role of Edible Insects in the Adi Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, North-East India

      • Karsing Megu, Jharna Chakravorty, Victor Benno Meyer-Rochow
      Pages 35-54
    4. Edible Insects and Their Uses in North America; Past, Present and Future

      • Marianne Shockley, Julie Lesnik, Robert Nathan Allen, Alicia Fonseca Muñoz
      Pages 55-79
  4. Nutrition and Health

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 81-81
    2. Insects and Human Nutrition

      • Nanna Roos
      Pages 83-91
    3. The Role of Edible Insects in Diets and Nutrition in East Africa

      • John N. Kinyuru, Dorothy Nyangena, Edwin Kamau, Alex Ndiritu, Joyce Muniu, Carolyne Kipkoech et al.
      Pages 93-108
    4. Edible Insects in a Food Safety Perspective

      • Simone Belluco, Alberto Mantovani, Antonia Ricci
      Pages 109-126
  5. Gastronomy

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 127-127
    2. Casu Marzu: A Gastronomic Genealogy

      • Luca Manunza
      Pages 139-145
    3. Edible Insects Uses in South Korean Gastronomy: “Korean Edible Insect Laboratory” Case Study

      • Jungyoung Tiffany Shin, Melissa A. Baker, Young Wook Kim
      Pages 147-159
  6. Environmental Impacts, Conservation and Future Challenges

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 161-161
    2. Comparing Environmental Impacts from Insects for Feed and Food as an Alternative to Animal Production

      • Afton Halloran, Hanne Helene Hansen, Lars Stoumann Jensen, Sander Bruun
      Pages 163-180
    3. Conservation of Edible Insects in Sub-Saharan Africa

      • Cathy Maria Dzerefos
      Pages 181-197
    4. Sustainable Proteins? Values Related to Insects in Food Systems

      • Christian Gamborg, Helena Röcklinsberg, Mickey Gjerris
      Pages 199-211
    5. Marketing Insects: Superfood or Solution-Food?

      • Carolin Schiemer, Afton Halloran, Kristjan Jespersen, Petra Kaukua
      Pages 213-236

About this book

This text provides an important overview of the contributions of edible insects to ecological sustainability, livelihoods, nutrition and health, food culture and food systems around the world. While insect farming for both food and feed is rapidly increasing in popularity around the world, the role that wild insect species have played in the lives and societies of millions of people worldwide cannot be ignored. In order to represent this diversity, this work draws upon research conducted in a wide range of geographical locations and features a variety of different insect species.


Edible insects in Sustainable Food Systems comprehensively covers the basic principles of entomology and population dynamics; edible insects and culture; nutrition and health; gastronomy; insects as animal feed; factors influencing preferences and acceptability of insects; environmental impacts and conservation; considerations for insect farming and policy and legislation. The book contains practical information for researchers, NGOs and international organizations, decision-makers, entrepreneurs and students.

Reviews

“This book is a valuable and timely addition to the previous books on the topic of insects as food and feed, and is interesting for the professionals in the field of food and feed science, students, human and animal nutritionists and entrepreneurs.” (S. Smetana, Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, September 21, 2018)

Editors and Affiliations

  • Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

    Afton Halloran, Nanna Roos

  • Nordic Food Lab, Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

    Roberto Flore

  • FAO, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy

    Paul Vantomme

About the editors

Dr. Afton Halloran completed her PhD on cricket farming in Thailand and Kenya in August 2017 under the GREEiNSECT research project at the University of Copenhagen. She formally worked for the Insects as Food and Feed Programme at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, where she co-authored Edible insects: future prospects for food and feed security. 

Roberto Flore is the Head of Research and Development at the Nordic Food Lab, University of Copenhagen. Roberto is one of the authors of On eating insects: essays, stories and recipes, a Phaidon Press publication. He is also one of the protaganists in the 2016 documentary BUGS. 

Paul Vantomme is a retired Senior Forestry Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Paul is responsible for initaiting the Insects for Food and Feed Programme at the FAO. He is also a co-author on the publication, Edible insects: future prospects for food and feed security. 

Dr. Nanna Roos is an Associate Professor in Human Nutrition at the Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen. She has extensive experience in research and research capacity in the linkages between human nutrition and insects. She is the principal investigator of the GREEiNSECT research project.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Edible Insects in Sustainable Food Systems

  • Editors: Afton Halloran, Roberto Flore, Paul Vantomme, Nanna Roos

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74011-9

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials Science, Chemistry and Material Science (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2018

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-74010-2Published: 25 May 2018

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-08900-9Published: 02 February 2019

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-74011-9Published: 14 May 2018

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XVII, 479

  • Number of Illustrations: 16 b/w illustrations, 64 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Food Science, Nutrition, Sustainable Development, Agriculture

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access