Eco-innovation and the Edible Insect Value Chain: A Systematic Review

The growing interest in edible insects as a component in animal feed and human food has caught the atten-tion of researchers from various fields, resulting in a multidisciplinary approach. This emerging value chainpositions itself as a sustainable and innovative alternative when compared to traditional protein chains. Inthis scenario, the objective of this article is to conduct a systematic review to investigate and present researchon the consumption of insects by humans and their use as animal feed in an eco-innovation context. Ourinvestigations indicate that research on the value chain of edible insects is present on almost all continents,revealing a growing interest, especially in developing countries. In these regions, insect consumption notonly addresses issues of food security but also contributes to income generation. The increase in research onalternative protein sources, such as edible insects, seems to align with a broader trend toward sustainability infood production, underscoring the relevance of the topic in the search for environmentally friendly solutions.Noteworthy results include global recognition and collaborative efforts in edible insect research, highlightinga collective approach to addressing challenges and exploring opportunities. This global cooperation under-scores the significance of the topic and the necessity for innovative solutions in addressing environmental andfood security challenges.