Prospects of entomophagy

The constant rise in the human population has led to food insecurity and malnourishment issues across the globe. Acceptance and popularization of entomophagy in society can help to meet the increasing demand for food supply. The high nutritive profile of edible insects makes them an excellent supplement in the diet. Consumption of edible insects as food and use in medicine is common among various tribes of the world. However, a major fraction of people is reluctant to accept insects as food. The harvesting of insects when done properly considering all the associated factors, can act as a source of livelihood and the profit margin of insect farming can exceed that of grain. There is a need for proper documentation of the edible species, preparation procedure, and their therapeutic properties along with multi-disciplinary research for sustainable development and commercialization.