Insect farming for health and livelihoods

Building on the research and lessons learned from the 2014-2017 GREEiNSECT research project in Kenya, HEALTHYINSECT aims to fill critical gaps in the understanding of how insects can contribute to future sustainable food systems. HEALTHYNSECT’s core research activity is the implementation of a multi-site intervention study using a cluster-randomized factorial design to assess the main and combined effects of enhancing insect consumption and production on nutrition, health and livelihoods.

The project includes the farming and consumption of three insect species in three countries: palm weevil larvae in Ghana, crickets in Kenya and long-horned grasshopper in Uganda.  The overall aim of HEALTHYNSECT is to assist the acceleration of policy development that promotes rural insect farming and the consumption of insects and insect-based products in Africa for sustainable development and improved nutrition, health, and livelihoods. New knowledge generated across three different insect farming systems and agro-economic settings will markedly add value by enhancing the ability to generalize findings to entire Sub-Saharan Africa.

Links:

https://nexs.ku.dk/english/research/nutrition-health/sustainable-nutrition-and-health/healthynsect/

http://drp.dfcentre.com/project/healthynsect-insect-farming-for-health-and-livelihood