Global review of consumer preferences and willingness to pay for edible insects and derived products

Zewdu Abro; Kibrom T. Sibhatu; Gebeyehu Manie Fetene; Mohammed Hussen Alemu; Chrysantus M. Tanga; Subramanian Sevga; Menale Kassie

doi:10.1016/j.gfs.2025.100834

Global review of consumer preferences and willingness to pay for edible insects and derived products

Zewdu Abro, Kibrom T. Sibhatu, Gebeyehu Manie Fetene, Mohammed Hussen Alemu, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Subramanian Sevga, Menale Kassie^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Section for Environment and Natural Resources

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review › peer-review

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Abstract

The rising global demand for protein, driven by population growth, urbanization, economic development, and climate change, underscores the need for sustainable alternative protein sources. Edible insects have emerged as a viable solution to enhance foodfeed and nutritional security while contributing to waste management. This study reviews 128 peer-reviewed publications to assess consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for edible insects and their derivatives. Findings reveal that studies predominantly focus on Europe and insect-based foods, with limited research on insect-based feeds and derived products. Consumers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America show higher acceptance of insect-based food compared to those in Western nations, where psychological barriers such as neophobia, disgust, and limited awareness hinder adoption. WTP for insect-based foods varies, with some consumers willing to pay a premium while others expect lower prices than conventional options. Integrating edible insects into sustainable food and feed ssytems requires public education, innovative marketing, and scaling up production.

Original language	English
Article number	100834
Journal	Global Food Security
Volume	44
Number of pages	12
ISSN	2211-9124
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2025.100834
Publication status	Published - 2025

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support for this research from the following organizations and agencies: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) (ProteinAfrica; Grant No: LS/2020/154); IKEA Foundation (G-2204-02144); the Rockefeller Foundation (WAVE-IN; Grant No: 2021 FOD 030); Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (INV-032416); Horizon Europe (NESTLER Project: 101060762 & INNOECOFOOD Project: 101136739]; Novo Nordisk Foundation (RefIPro: NNF22SA0078466); the Curt Bergfors Foundation Food Planet Prize Award; the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida); the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR); the Government of Norway; the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); and the Government of the Republic of Kenya. Mohammed Hussen Alemu acknowledges financial support from The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, through the HEALTHYNSECT project (Grant number: 19-08- KU). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or manuscript preparation. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the funders.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Authors

Keywords

Alternative protein sources
Circular economy
Entomophagy
Insect-based feed
Insect-based food
Sustainability

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Cite this

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title = "Global review of consumer preferences and willingness to pay for edible insects and derived products",

abstract = "The rising global demand for protein, driven by population growth, urbanization, economic development, and climate change, underscores the need for sustainable alternative protein sources. Edible insects have emerged as a viable solution to enhance foodfeed and nutritional security while contributing to waste management. This study reviews 128 peer-reviewed publications to assess consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for edible insects and their derivatives. Findings reveal that studies predominantly focus on Europe and insect-based foods, with limited research on insect-based feeds and derived products. Consumers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America show higher acceptance of insect-based food compared to those in Western nations, where psychological barriers such as neophobia, disgust, and limited awareness hinder adoption. WTP for insect-based foods varies, with some consumers willing to pay a premium while others expect lower prices than conventional options. Integrating edible insects into sustainable food and feed ssytems requires public education, innovative marketing, and scaling up production.",

keywords = "Alternative protein sources, Circular economy, Entomophagy, Insect-based feed, Insect-based food, Sustainability",

author = "Zewdu Abro and Sibhatu, {Kibrom T.} and Fetene, {Gebeyehu Manie} and Alemu, {Mohammed Hussen} and Tanga, {Chrysantus M.} and Subramanian Sevga and Menale Kassie",

note = "Funding Information: The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support for this research from the following organizations and agencies: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) (ProteinAfrica; Grant No: LS/2020/154); IKEA Foundation (G-2204-02144); the Rockefeller Foundation (WAVE-IN; Grant No: 2021 FOD 030); Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (INV-032416); Horizon Europe (NESTLER Project: 101060762 & INNOECOFOOD Project: 101136739]; Novo Nordisk Foundation (RefIPro: NNF22SA0078466); the Curt Bergfors Foundation Food Planet Prize Award; the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida); the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR); the Government of Norway; the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); and the Government of the Republic of Kenya. Mohammed Hussen Alemu acknowledges financial support from The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, through the HEALTHYNSECT project (Grant number: 19-08- KU). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or manuscript preparation. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the funders. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Authors",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1016/j.gfs.2025.100834",

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volume = "44",

journal = "Global Food Security",

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AU - Abro, Zewdu

AU - Sibhatu, Kibrom T.

AU - Fetene, Gebeyehu Manie

AU - Alemu, Mohammed Hussen

AU - Tanga, Chrysantus M.

AU - Sevga, Subramanian

AU - Kassie, Menale

N1 - Funding Information: The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support for this research from the following organizations and agencies: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) (ProteinAfrica; Grant No: LS/2020/154); IKEA Foundation (G-2204-02144); the Rockefeller Foundation (WAVE-IN; Grant No: 2021 FOD 030); Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (INV-032416); Horizon Europe (NESTLER Project: 101060762 & INNOECOFOOD Project: 101136739]; Novo Nordisk Foundation (RefIPro: NNF22SA0078466); the Curt Bergfors Foundation Food Planet Prize Award; the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida); the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR); the Government of Norway; the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); and the Government of the Republic of Kenya. Mohammed Hussen Alemu acknowledges financial support from The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, through the HEALTHYNSECT project (Grant number: 19-08- KU). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or manuscript preparation. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the funders. Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors

PY - 2025

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N2 - The rising global demand for protein, driven by population growth, urbanization, economic development, and climate change, underscores the need for sustainable alternative protein sources. Edible insects have emerged as a viable solution to enhance foodfeed and nutritional security while contributing to waste management. This study reviews 128 peer-reviewed publications to assess consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for edible insects and their derivatives. Findings reveal that studies predominantly focus on Europe and insect-based foods, with limited research on insect-based feeds and derived products. Consumers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America show higher acceptance of insect-based food compared to those in Western nations, where psychological barriers such as neophobia, disgust, and limited awareness hinder adoption. WTP for insect-based foods varies, with some consumers willing to pay a premium while others expect lower prices than conventional options. Integrating edible insects into sustainable food and feed ssytems requires public education, innovative marketing, and scaling up production.

AB - The rising global demand for protein, driven by population growth, urbanization, economic development, and climate change, underscores the need for sustainable alternative protein sources. Edible insects have emerged as a viable solution to enhance foodfeed and nutritional security while contributing to waste management. This study reviews 128 peer-reviewed publications to assess consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for edible insects and their derivatives. Findings reveal that studies predominantly focus on Europe and insect-based foods, with limited research on insect-based feeds and derived products. Consumers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America show higher acceptance of insect-based food compared to those in Western nations, where psychological barriers such as neophobia, disgust, and limited awareness hinder adoption. WTP for insect-based foods varies, with some consumers willing to pay a premium while others expect lower prices than conventional options. Integrating edible insects into sustainable food and feed ssytems requires public education, innovative marketing, and scaling up production.

KW - Alternative protein sources

KW - Circular economy

KW - Entomophagy

KW - Insect-based feed

KW - Insect-based food

KW - Sustainability

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DO - 10.1016/j.gfs.2025.100834

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JO - Global Food Security

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