Conference Report: Insects for the Green Economy Conference (IGEC)
Conference 28 – 29 February 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya.
HEALTHYNSECT
Insect farming for health and livelihoods
Contact
Associate Professor Nanna Roos
We investigate the role of:
- incentivizing insect farming by providing farmers with start-up insect farming kits and training;
- incentivizing insect consumption in rural communities by providing a nutritious insect-based food supplements designed for children along with nutrition education;
- a combined intervention of incentivizing farming and consumption as these factors are likely to have complementary effects.
Insects are some of the most promising sustainable and healthy food sources. They have rapid growth rates and high feed conversion ratios, making them less of an environmental burden than conventional livestock and chicken. Insects are a rich source of high-quality animal protein and micronutrients, which is important as micronutrient deficiency among the main dietary deficiencies in low-income countries. While consuming edible insects collected from the wild has long been a part of traditional diets, farming insects as “mini-livestock” is emerging as a novel animal production.
Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most nutritionally insecure regions in the world. Unbalanced diets and dietary deficiencies are among the main underlying problems of malnutrition. Insect farming holds the potential of becoming a sustainable and effective agricultural production-system, contributing to multiple Sustainable Development Goals if successfully introduced and adopted.
Building on the research and lessons learned from the 2014-2017 GREEiNSECT research project in Kenya, HEALTHYINSECT will fill critical gaps in our 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 nsenene 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.
The specific objectives of the HEALTHYNSECT project are:
Objective 1
To develop an evidence-based framework describing the impact pathways from incentivizing insect farming and consumption to intermediate and long-term development outcomes related to nutrition, health and livelihoods.
Objective 2
To conduct a multi-site factorial intervention study that identifies and quantifies the pathways for enhancing the adoption of insect farming and consumption of insects and insect-based products.
Objective 3
To assess the impacts of incentivizing insect consumption through the provision of insect-based food supplements on household dietary diversity young children’s diets, and health and nutritional status in rural households.
Objective 4
To assess the impacts of incentivizing small-scale insect farming on household livelihoods and resilience. This includes production and dietary diversity, food security perception, resource allocation, income generation, and household agricultural asset composition.
Objective 5
To support research capacity building and regional East-West research collaboration in Africa for strengthening research capacity on edible insects in sustainable food systems.
HEALTHYINSECT brings together research partners from Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Denmark.
Ghana
Dr. Jacob Anankware, Lecturer, Department of Horticulture and Crop Production, University of Energy and Natural Resources
Dr. Daniel Obeng-Ofori, Adjunct Professor, School of Agriculture & Technology, University of Energy and Natural Resources
Kenya
Dr. Monica Ayeko, Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness Management/ Agribusiness, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology
Dr. John Kinyuru, Lecturer and Research Scientist, Department of Food Science and Technology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
Dr. Silvenus Konyole, Senior Lecturer and Head of Department, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology
Dr. Evans Nyakeri, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness Management/ Agribusiness, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology
Dr. Carolyne Kipkoech, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Food Science and Technology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
Uganda
Professor Philip Nyeko, Professor and Head of Department, Department of Forestry, Biodiversity and Tourism, Makerere University
Dr. Geoffrey Maxwell Malinga, Department of Forestry, Biodiversity and Tourism, Makerere University
Denmark
Dr. Nanna Roos, Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen
Dr. Søren Bøye Olsen, Professor, Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen
Dr. Jøren Eilenberg, Professor, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen
Dr. Mohammed Hussen Alemu, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen
Dr. Afton Halloran, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen
International
Dr. Saliou Nyassi, Head of the Technology Transfer Unit, International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology
HEALTHYNSECT is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (MFA) and administered by Danida Fellowship Centre. The research results are independent, and the views and opinions expressed by project partners based on the research findings do not necessarily reflect those of the MFA.
Danida Fellowship Centre administers Denmark’s support to development research and research capacity building on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.
Sahana, G., Chia, S. Y., Beesigamukama, D., Ng'ang'a, J., Tanga, C. M., Kinyua, J., Ayieko, M., Nakimbugwe, D., Bett, R., Menaga, M., Konyole, S., Anankware, J., Nyeko, P., Niassy, S., Kinyuru, J., Gebreyesus, G., & Roos, N. (2024). Conference Report: Insects for the Green Economy Conference (IGEC). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12605312
Boit, TC, Melse-Boonstra, A, Michaelsen, KF & Roos, N 2024, 'Should we provide edible insects in children's diets?', Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 275-282. https://doi.org/10.1097/MCO.0000000000001029
Kiiru, S, Ng'ang'a, J, Konyole, S, Roos, N, Hetzer, B, Marel, AK, Orkusz, A, Harasym, J & Kinyuru, J 2024, 'Physicochemical characterisation and impact of Gryllus bimaculatus addition on gluten-free flour blends', International Journal of Food Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijfs.17185
Evanson R. Omuse; Henri E. Z.Tonnang; Abdullahi Ahmed Yusuf; Honest Machekano; James Peter Egonyu; Emily Kimathi; Samira Faris Mohamed; Menale Kassie; Sevgan Subramanian; Juliet Onditi; Serah Mwangi; Sunday Ekesi; Saliou Niassy. (2024) The global atlas of edible insects: analysis of diversity and commonality contributing to food systems and sustainability. Scientific Reports http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55603-7
Anankware, J. P., Debrah, S. K., Asomah, S., Egonyu, J. P., Eilenberg, J., Roos, N., & Obeng-Ofori, D. (2023). Interactive effects of temperature and substrates on selected life history parameters of the African palm weevil Rhynchophorus phoenicis (Fabricius)(Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 1(aop), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1163/23524588-20230064
Debrah, S. K., Anankware, J. P., Malinga, G. M., Asomah, S., & Obeng-Ofori, D. (2024). Variation in substrate nutritional composition and its effects on the growth, development, and nutrient composition of Rhynchophorus phoenicis Fabricius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 1(aop), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1163/23524588-20230059
Kpakpo, HJ., Debrah, SK., Anankware, JP., and Daniel Obeng-Ofori. D. (2023)."Evaluation of different larval substrates on selected parameters of african palm weevil (Rhynchophorus phoenicis)(F.)(Coleoptera: Curculionidae)." International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 43, 6: 2039-2044. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-023-01090-8
Acur, A., Malinga, G.M. & Nyeko, P (2024). Evaluation of selected agricultural by-products as potential feeds for rearing edible grasshopper, Ruspolia differens (Serville) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). CABI Agric Biosci 5, 3 https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-023-00203-0
Asomah, S, Anankware, J P, Debrah, S K, Obeng-Ofori, D (2023) ‘Evaluation of different substrates on the life history parameters of African palm weevil, Rhynchophorous phoenicis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Ghana’, COGENT FOOD & AGRICULTURE, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2023.2232170
Alemu MH, Halloran A, Olsen SB, Anankware JP, Nyeko P, Ayieko M, Nyakeri E, Kinyuru JN, Konyole S, Niassy S, Egonyu JP, Malinga GM, JNg'ang'a J, Ng'ong'a J, Okeyo N, Debrah SK, Kiiru S, Acur A, Roos N (2023) Promoting insect farming and household consumption through agricultural training and nutrition education in Africa: A study protocol for a multisite cluster-randomized controlled trial. PLoS ONE, vol. 18, no. 7, e0288870. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288870
Malinga, GM, Acur, A, Ocen, P, Holm, S, Rutaro, K, Ochaya, S, Kinyuru, JN, Eilenberg, J, Roos, N, Valtonen, A, Nyeko, P & Roininen, H (2022), Growth and reproductive performance of edible grasshopper (Ruspolia differens) on different artificial diets, Journal of Economic Entomology, vol. 115, no. 3, pp. 724-730. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toac053
Egonyu, J, Baguma, J, Martínez, LC, Priwiratama, H, Subramanian, S, Tanga, CM, Anankware, JP, Roos, N & Niassy, S (2022), Global advances on insect pest management research in oil palm, Sustainability, vol. 14, no. 23, 16288. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142316288
Niassy, S, Omuse, ER, Roos, N, Halloran, A, Eilenberg, J, Egonyu, JP, Tanga, C, Meutchieye, F, Mwangi, R, Subramanian, S, Musundire, R, Nkunika, POY, Anankware, JP, Kinyuru, J, Yusuf, A & Ekesi, S (2022), Safety, regulatory and environmental issues related to breeding and international trade of edible insects in Africa, O I E Revue Scientifique et Technique, vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 117-131. https://doi.org/10.20506/rst.41.1.3309
Debrah, S.K. Anankware, J.P., Asomah, S, Ofori, D.O. (2022). Substrates: a solution to the mass production of African palm weevil (Rhynchophorus phoenicis) (F.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Insects as Food and Feed 0 (0)-Pages:1- https://doi.org/10.3920/JIFF2021.0220
Debrah, S.K., Anankware, P.J., Asomah, S. and Obeng-Ofori, D. (2022). Challenges associated with Rhynchophorus phoenicis Fabricius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) farming: a case study of the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed: 0 (0)- Pages: 1 – 10. https://doi.org/10.3920/JIFF2021.0219
Magara, HJO, Niassy, S, Ayieko, MA, Mukundamago, M, Egonyu, JP, Tanga, CM, Kimathi, EK, Ongere, JO, Fiaboe, KKM, Hugel, S, Orinda, MA, Roos, N & Ekesi, S (2021), Edible crickets (Orthoptera) around the world: Distribution, nutritional value, and other benefits - A review, Frontiers in Nutrition, bind 7, 537915. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.537915
Kinyuru, J, Kipkoech, C, Imathiu, S, Konyole, S & Roos, N (2021). Acceptability of cereal-cricket porridge compared to cereal and cereal-milk- porridges among caregivers and nursery school children in Uasin Gishu, Kenya, International Journal of Tropical Insect Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-020-00388-1
Afton Halloran, Monica Ayieko, Jacqueline Oloo, Silvenus Ochieng Konyole, Mohammed Hussen Alemu & Nanna Roos (2020). What determines farmers’ awareness and interest in adopting cricket farming? A pilot study from Kenya. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-020-00333-2
Mr. Amos Acur, MSc. In Molecular Biology, Department of Forestry, Biodiversity and Tourism, Makerere University, Uganda.
Short biography
I hold a BSc. in Biotechnology and an MSc. in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.
I have worked as a Research Assistant with the National Agricultural Research Organization, NARO since 2012. My work placement unit/department has been Crop Protection (Plant Pathology and Crop Entomology).
I have been working on fungal and bacterial pathogens of economic importance to Legumes and Cereals crops. This work has been involving surveillance, training of farmers on crop pest and disease management, laboratory isolation of plant pathogens, molecular genetics analyses of isolated plant pathogens and evaluation of crop cultivars for resistance to specific diseases.
I have also been doing surveillance on crop pests, quality assurance of commercial pesticides and efficacy evaluation of entomopathogens for use as biopesticides.
Skills
Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Molecular Genetics and Entomology.
PhD supervisors
Prof. Philip Nyeko,
Dr. Geoffrey Malinga,
Nicky Odhiambo Okeyo, MCHD- Masters in Community Health and Development, Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, Biomedical Sciences & Technology Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya.
Short biography
I am a holder of Master’s Degree in Community Health and Development, Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science, Bachelor of Science in Applied Statistics with short course trainings in both M&E and Epidemiology.
I have been involved in data management and information system development for over 10 years. Between February 2011 to February 2019 I served as a senior data manager for KEMRI-CGHR-HISS Project where I have been in-charge of data from the HIV care clinics in a number of facilities the largest being Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH).
In this position my main role was to create data management systems and ensure all data generated at the facility level was complete, accurate, valid and consistent with standards of care. I was the point of contact during the JOOTRH evaluation till December 2017.
From June 2009 to Feb 2011 I worked on a DFID funded project in collaborative project with University of Ottawa where I was the program statistician for a period of 3 years. On this project I supported planning and coordination of a mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) research evaluation program. On this project I monitored data collection, analyzed, prepared policy briefs and disseminate both research and program data/findings. In addition I was also in charge of training program research assistants on data collection, data quality, research processes, and data management.
The two positions gave me the opportunity to work in collaborative project with multiple stakeholders including the government ministries. As a result of my work on the two, I have co-authored 9 peer-reviewed articles.
PhD supervisors
Dr. Silvenus O. Konyole.
Prof. Asenath J. Sigot.
Social media accounts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickyokeyo
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicky_Okeyo
Linked-in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicky-odhiambo-okeyo-a3419726/
Charles Adino Ng’ong’a, MSc. Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture (Awaiting Graduation), Department of Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness Management/ Agribusiness, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kenya.
Short biography
Have a background in MSc Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture and BSc (Agribusiness Management) from Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology.
Worked on edible insects’ production particularly Crickets and Black Soldier fly since 2012 courtesy of Flying Food, Greeinsect, and INSEFOODS projects. Endowed with vast experience on Cricket and Black soldier rearing, value addition and tutoring farmers on insect production.
Research interests include but not limited to Farm Production Efficiency, Agricultural Policy Analysis, Sustainable Food Production, and Climate Change Resilience and Mitigation.
Driven by the belief that Africa has the potential to solve its challenges particularly that of Food Insecurity and Malnutrition and his contribution in generating novel Agricultural knowledge and technology transfer is vital for policy formulation in an effort to address Kenyan Vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals.
PhD supervisor
Professor Monica Ayieko.
Social media accounts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NGONGACHARLES
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Charles_Ngonga
Shadrack Kwaku Debrah, MPhil Entomology, Department of Horticulture and Crop Production, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghana.
Short biography
My Professional goal is to help develop simple and sustainable solutions for food and nutritional security using affordable technology in science.
- Five years’ experience in palm weevil rearing and fruit fly management
- Three experience in farm management
- MPhil Entomology – University of Ghana
BSc Agriculture Technology – University for Development Studies.
PhD supervisors
Dr Jacob Anankware.
Prof Daniel Obeng Ofori.
Social media accounts
Linked-in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shadrack-debrah-8b1400105/
Samuel Maina Kiiru, MSc. in Food Science and Technology, Department of Food Science and Technology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya.
Short biography
Samuel has an MSc degree in Food Science and Technology and completed a project on in vitro protein digestibility and textural properties of extruded cricket- based meat analogues.
He is an author of several peer-reviewed scientific papers and also a speaker in international seminars on areas involving production, processing and safety of edible insects as a sustainable source of animal proteins.
He has worked in local and international projects, internships and vastly involved in consultancy jobs.
PhD supervisors
Dr John N. Kinyuru.
Social media accounts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kiirusamm
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Samuel_Kiiru5
Linked-in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-m-kiiru-425341111/
Involved in the project
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roos, Nanna | Associate Professor | +4535332497 |
Funded by
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (MFA), administered by Danida Fellowship Centre.
Period: May 2020 - December 2024.