Regenerative edible insects for food, feed, and sustainable livelihoods in Nigeria: Consumption, potential and prospects
Pascal Osa Aigbedion-Atalor,
Ken Okwae Fening,
Akinyemi O. Adeyemi,
Itohan Idemudia,
Kenechukwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu,
Maureen Amuche Nwobodo,
Oghenetega Sunday,
Nnenna Chinyelu Isiogu,
Abiola O. Oke
Affiliations
Pascal Osa Aigbedion-Atalor
National Horticultural Research Institute P.M.B. 5432, Jericho Reservation Area, Idi-Ishin Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Department of Ecology, Brandenburg University of Technology 03046 Cottbus, Senftenberg, Germany; Corresponding author at: P.M.B. 5432, Jericho Reservation Area, Idi-Ishin, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Ken Okwae Fening
African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Soil and Irrigation Research Centre, School of Agriculture, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Akinyemi O. Adeyemi
Department of Agronomy, Osun State University, Osun, Nigeria
Itohan Idemudia
African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
Kenechukwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu
African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
Maureen Amuche Nwobodo
Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Gregory University Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria
Oghenetega Sunday
African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
Nnenna Chinyelu Isiogu
African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
Abiola O. Oke
National Horticultural Research Institute P.M.B. 5432, Jericho Reservation Area, Idi-Ishin Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Edible insects are imperative as food, feed, and other products for industries, but commercial farming and utilization of insects as food, feed and industries is seldom in Nigeria. However, consumption of insects in Nigeria is longstanding and increasingly becoming popular and receiving more attention because of their potential as alternatives to animal protein and a means of livelihood to mitigate hunger and poverty. We harnessed academic and grey literature and personal communications to obtain a wholesome and concise review of the edible insects in Nigeria. This process revealed 13 edible insect species consumed amongst various tribes and indigenous people in the country. We found that the consumption of insects in Nigeria is ubiquitous but more popular and generally accepted in southern Nigeria than in the northern part of the country. However, farming insects for food and feed is seldom because edible insects are harvested from wild populations. Insights into the challenges of farming edible insects in Nigeria revealed that funding, seasonality, technical know-how or expertise are at the forefront, while poor extension services, inadequate processing technologies, and not having in place strategies for their upscaling are also implicated. We recommend mutualistic cooperation between key stakeholders along the agricultural value chain in Nigeria, such as the government, investors, and others that will foster partnerships with established industries in East Africa, especially Kenya and Uganda, where farming insects for food, feed, and livelihoods is thriving.
