About this Research Topic
Insects have been studied extensively since the dawn of time due to their economic importance in food and sustainability. However, because the majority of insects are completely domesticated, the duration and parameters of their development can be completely controlled by regulating environmental conditions. Therefore, insects are becoming a more valuable and appropriate tool for research, human and animal nutrition, agriculture, and in some cases environmental sustainability. Advances related to the utilization of insect resource has been proliferated through current and innovative biotechnological and biocatalytic approaches. It is, therefore, necessary to exploit these capabilities in producing valorized products from insects. Additionally, it is critical to improve the efficiency of the production and management systems of insect resources, as well as agricultural sustainability, to achieve food sustainability and hunger alleviation, and to improve economic productivity and the availability of food systems for insect conversion.
Certain types of insects, many of which are voracious feeders of plants and organic wastes, may help address environmental, economic, and health issues, and have been highlighted as a source of protein and fat to fulfill the expanding demands for food, feed, and energy as the global population continues to grow. The process of bioconversion aids in converting agricultural resources into valuable products and promotes the effective discovery of products for incorporation in functional foods, while alleviating environmental pollution by indiscriminate disposal of insect by-products. It is estimated that bioconversion could promote the utilization of insect resources to supplement health and nutrition. The efficient use of insect waste will help to improve the lives of stakeholders, and further contributes to economic activities in the production of revenue for local farmers. Additionally, the process of bioconversion can promote the maturity of agricultural composting, the inactivation of heavy metals, and the production of a significant amount of insect protein, all of which have positive ecological and economic effects. The tenable technique and modification technologies available for the successful increase in insect by-product conversion is a crucial contribution to sustainability accompanied by a decline in the adverse environmental impact of insect by-product management.
In this Research Topic, original research articles and reviews from researchers dealing with insects and their resources via different bioconversion approaches are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Bioconversion systems and technologies for improving insect resources for functional food production
- Insects as food and feed
- Insect management and agricultural sustainability
- Insect resources as support platforms for novel foods production
- Precision agriculture sustainability
Certain types of insects, many of which are voracious feeders of plants and organic wastes, may help address environmental, economic, and health issues, and have been highlighted as a source of protein and fat to fulfill the expanding demands for food, feed, and energy as the global population continues to grow. The process of bioconversion aids in converting agricultural resources into valuable products and promotes the effective discovery of products for incorporation in functional foods, while alleviating environmental pollution by indiscriminate disposal of insect by-products. It is estimated that bioconversion could promote the utilization of insect resources to supplement health and nutrition. The efficient use of insect waste will help to improve the lives of stakeholders, and further contributes to economic activities in the production of revenue for local farmers. Additionally, the process of bioconversion can promote the maturity of agricultural composting, the inactivation of heavy metals, and the production of a significant amount of insect protein, all of which have positive ecological and economic effects. The tenable technique and modification technologies available for the successful increase in insect by-product conversion is a crucial contribution to sustainability accompanied by a decline in the adverse environmental impact of insect by-product management.
In this Research Topic, original research articles and reviews from researchers dealing with insects and their resources via different bioconversion approaches are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Bioconversion systems and technologies for improving insect resources for functional food production
- Insects as food and feed
- Insect management and agricultural sustainability
- Insect resources as support platforms for novel foods production
- Precision agriculture sustainability
Keywords: Insect resources as food, Insect modification, Functional foods, Bioactive compounds, Novel food processes, Sustainable processing, Environment and Biodiversity, Sustainability and health, Biotechnologies applied for insects, Bioconversion
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