Abstract

Food security is a critical issue for many lowincome countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Appropriately identifying and utilising local resources can provide sustainable solutions to food security problems. Insects, which are traditionally consumed in many regions of the world, represent one such resource. Insects can be nutritionally rich and therefore could be used to address issues of malnutrition. A first step towards utilising insects as a resource is identifying which ones are traditionally consumed.We present data collected between 2005 and 2012 on insects eaten by communities across Benin, West Africa. A combination of literature research, field collections, community focus groups and targeted interviews were employed. Data on four ethnic groups is presented: the Anii, Fon, Nagot and Waama. Twenty-nine arthropods species are eaten across Benin. The predominant orders are Orthoptera (48 %) and Coleoptera (41 %). New families of edible arthropods in West Africa include: Bradyporidae (Orthoptera), Coreidae (Hemiptera), Dytiscidae (Coleoptera), Ixodidae (Acari). Insect collection is an ancestral tradition in all the described communities: however, there are considerable differences in preferences and collection methods among ethnic groups. Currently there is little valorisation of insects as a food product in Benin, in contrast to neighbouring countries. In light of considerable malnutrition in Benin among young children, promoting this tradition and implementing small scale captive rearing of selected species could improve food security.

Keywords

West Africa; Edible insects; Malnutrition; Food security; Mini-livestock; Sustainable agriculture; Local traditions

Published in

Food Security
2016, Volume: 8, number: 1, pages: 139-149

SLU Authors

• Riggi, Laura

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

Future Agriculture (until Jan 2017)


Sustainable Development Goals

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development


UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-015-0509-y

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/72232