Advances in edible insects: from mass rearing and processing safety to consumer acceptance and environmental sustainability

Edible insects represent one of the most promising alternatives for addressing global food security, climate change, and the growing demand for sustainable protein. As the global population approaches 10 billion by 2050, traditional livestock farming faces severe constraints regarding land use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. Edible insects present a high-protein, nutrient-dense alternative with superior feed conversion efficiency and a significantly lower environmental footprint. Over the past decade, the sector has transitioned from a traditional practice to a rapidly growing agro-industrial one, with significant advances in mass-rearing technology, optimized insect nutrition, bioconversion of organic side-streams, and novel processing techniques. However, for insect farming to achieve its full potential as a mainstream protein source, key challenges in safety, scalability, regulatory compliance, and market adoption must be systematically addressed.The primary goal of this Research Topic is to address the scientific, technological, and socio-economic bottlenecks currently impeding the widespread adoption of edible insects in global food systems. While the environmental benefits are well-documented, transitioning from pilot-scale rearing to large-scale, automated industrial production presents complex hurdles: maintaining genetic diversity and health in mass-reared colonies, managing microbiological and allergenic risks, standardizing nutrient composition, improving processing methods to preserve functional properties, and overcoming negative consumer perceptions in many Western societies. By compiling cutting-edge research across the entire insect-for-food-and-feed value chain, this collection aims to bridge the gap between fundamental entomological science, industrial production efficiency, and consumer integration.We invite researchers, industry experts, and food scientists to submit Original Research, Systematic Reviews, Brief Research Reports, Perspectives, Policy and Practice Reviews, and Mini Reviews. Key areas of interest include, but are not limited to:- Optimization of insect nutrition, growth performance, reproductive efficiency, health, welfare, and breeding genetics in mass-rearing systems.- Valorization of agricultural and industrial side-streams through insect bioconversion and circular economy applications.- Chemical, microbiological, heavy metal, and allergenicity safety profiling of edible insect species.- Advanced extraction and processing technologies (e.g., thermal, non-thermal, fractionation) for insect protein, lipids, and chitin, and their effects on functional properties and nutritional quality.- Consumer perception, sensory evaluation, marketing strategies, and socio-economic drivers of entomophagy.- Environmental impact assessments, life cycle analyses (LCA), economic feasibility, and circular economy modeling.- Regulatory frameworks, legislation, and standardization of insect-derived products globally.By bringing together interdisciplinary insights spanning entomology, food science, microbiology, life-cycle assessment, and socio-economics, this collection will establish a robust, evidence-based roadmap for researchers, industry stakeholders, and policy makers working to integrate edible insects into safe, sustainable, and scalable food supply chains. All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process according to Frontiers in Insect Science standards. Topic editors: Juana Fernández-López, CHRYSANTUS MBI TANGA, Anna Zimoch-Korzycka Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85163/advances-in-edible-insects-from-mass-rearing-and-processing-safety-to-consumer-acceptance-and-environmental-sustainability