Due to the rising cost and limited availability of fish meal (FM), researchers have focused on exploring alternative animal feed sources such as black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) in aquafeed industry. This study investigated the effects of replacing FM with full-fat BSFL on the growth of Nile tilapia fry at inclusion levels of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%, hereafter designated as BSFL0%, BSFL25%, BSFL50%, BSFL75% and BSFL100% respectively. A total of 500 healthy Nile tilapia fry (mean weight =2.7±1.1 g) were randomly stocked into 10 plastic tanks (50 fry per tank; two replicates per treatment) and fed for 150 days. Fish were fed three times daily and weighted biweekly to monitor growth performance and adjust the feed offered for the fish. Water quality parameters including temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen were monitored using a real-time IoT device known as SynWater which is SYNELIXIS innovative solutions. Nile tilapia fry fed on BSFL100% showed significantly higher fish weight (74.52±1.32) compared with BSFL25% and BSFL50% (p < 0.05), but no significance difference was obtained among BSFL100%, BSFL75% (65.98±1.54) and BSFL0% (61.2±2.08). Regardless of BSFL inclusion levels, all measured water quality parameters remained within acceptable ranges for optimum Nile tilapia fry growth. A simple economic analysis showed that the BSFL100% diet significantly reduced the feed cost and increased the profit index by 52% compared with the FM control diet (BSFL0%). This study demonstrated that BSFL can fully replace FM without adversely affecting the growth of Nile tilapia or the water quality parameters. Future research should focus on optimizing BSFL production techniques in order to promote low-cost insect-based protein diets for livestock and fish production in Ethiopia.

Insect meals have the potential to be used as a source of nutrients in aquafeeds due to their high nutritional profile and cost effectiveness. The objective of this study was to elucidate the impact of black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) as a replacement for fish meal (FM) on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, L) growth performance, survival rate, somatic indexes and economic benefits. Four experimental diets were prepared; three with BSFLM as a substitute for FM at 25 % (T25 %), 50 % (T50 %) and 75 % (T75 %) and a control diet without BSFLM (T0 %, 100 % FM). A total of 360 fingerlings weighing about 20 – 30 gs each were assigned to twelve cages built in a 720m² earthen pond, with 30 fingerlings in each cage in a completely randomized design with three replications in each treatment group. The fingerlings were fed the experimental diets for 26 weeks. The results showed that the treatment diets did not significantly affect body weight gain and daily feed intake (p > 0.05). However, treatment T50 % (52.16 g) had the highest body weight gain while treatment T75 % (46.00 g) had the lowest body weight gain even though not statistically different (p > 0.05). The body length also followed the same trend being higher in T50 % (16.50 cm) and lowest in T75 % (15.91 cm). The survival rate was significantly influenced (p < 0.05) by the diet treatment groups, while blood parameters, visceral somatic and hepatosomatic indexes did not vary significantly (p > 0.05) across the treatment diets. Return on investment and the cost-benefit ratio were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the partial replacement of FM with BSFLM. Diets T25 %, T50 % and T75 % had higher (p < 0.05) profit margins when compared with diet T0 % (control). The study found that BSFLM can replace FM in diets for Nile tilapia without compromising on the growth performance of the fish while also increasing the profitability.

Crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus) produce sounds as a natural means to communicate and convey various behaviors and activities, including mating, feeding, aggression, distress, and more. These vocalizations are intricately linked to prevailing environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. By accurately monitoring, identifying, and appropriately addressing these behaviors and activities, the farming and production of crickets can be enhanced. This research implemented a decision support system that leverages machine learning (ML) algorithms to decode and classify cricket songs, along with their associated key weather variables (temperature and humidity). Videos capturing cricket behavior and weather variables were recorded. From these videos, sound signals were extracted and classified such as calling, aggression, and courtship. Numerical and image features were extracted from the sound signals and combined with the weather variables. The extracted numerical features, i.e., Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC), Linear Frequency Cepstral Coefficients, and chroma, were used to train shallow (support vector machine, k-nearest neighbors, and random forest (RF)) ML algorithms. While image features, i.e., spectrograms, were used to train different state-of-the-art deep ML models, i,e., convolutional neural network architectures (ResNet152V2, VGG16, and EfficientNetB4). In the deep ML category, ResNet152V2 had the best accuracy of 99.42%. The RF algorithm had the best accuracy of 95.63% in the shallow ML category when trained with a combination of MFCC+chroma and after feature selection. In descending order of importance, the top 6 ranked features in the RF algorithm were, namely humidity, temperature, C#, mfcc11, mfcc10, and D. From the selected features, it is notable that temperature and humidity are necessary for growth and metabolic activities in insects. Moreover, the songs produced by certain cricket species naturally align to musical tones such as C# and D as ranked by the algorithm. Using this knowledge, a decision support system was built to guide farmers about the optimal temperature and humidity ranges and interpret the songs (calling, aggression, and courtship) in relation to weather variables. With this information, farmers can put in place suitable measures such as temperature regulation, humidity control, addressing aggressors, and other relevant interventions to minimize or eliminate losses and enhance cricket production.

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are serious pests of most food crops, causing up to 100% yield loss. Nevertheless, commercial nematicides are costly and harmful to the environment. While the nematicidal potential of crustacean and synthetic chitin has been demonstrated globally, research on the potential of insect-derived chitin for nematode control has received limited attention. Here, seven chitin-fortified black soldier fly frass fertilizer extracts (chFE) were assessed for their suppressiveness of Meloidogyne incognita and impacts on spinach growth in comparison with a commercial nematicide using in vitro and in vivo bioassays. The performance of chFE and control treatments was assessed by determining their effects on nematode egg hatchability; infective juvenile (J2) mortality and paralysis; number of galls, egg masses, and J2s per plant; and spinach root and shoot biomass. In vitro results showed that chFE and commercial nematicide suppressed nematode egg hatchability by 42% and 52%, respectively, relative to the control (sterile distilled water). Up to 100% paralysis was achieved when M. incognita J2s were exposed to either chFE or commercial nematicide. Further, the J2 mortality achieved using chFE (95%) was comparable to the value achieved using commercial nematicide (96%); in all treatments, mortality increased with exposure time. Similarly, up to 85% suppression of gall development was achieved when spinach plants were grown in soil drenched with chFE; up to 79% reduction in egg mass formation and 68% suppression of J2 development in the root system were achieved using chFE. Also, chFE application significantly increased spinach root and shoot biomass by 54%–74% and 39%–58%, respectively, compared to commercial nematicide. Our findings demonstrate the nematicidal potential of chFE and its benefits on crop production. Thus, chFE could be considered as a promising multipurpose, regenerative, and cost-effective input for sustainable management of plant-parasitic nematodes and enhancement of crop yield.

Due to the recent increase in the human population and the associated shortage of protein resources, it is necessary to find new, sustainable, and natural protein resources from underutilized edible insects. This study sought to establish an optimized procedure for three extraction techniques [distilled water (E1), water with ultrasonic-assisted (E2), and chemical (E3): 0.25 M NaOH; pH 13.6] of protein from edible caterpillars (Gynanisa maja and Gonimbrasia belina) and cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus), and further to characterize the amino acid component and the techno-functional and antioxidant properties of the extracted proteins. The extraction efficiency of E3 was over 150%, with its proteins having higher oil- and water-holding capacities (3.69–5.75 and 2.36–3.08 g/g, respectively), foaming (foam capacity: 47–61%, foam stability: 17–84%), emulsion (emulsion activity: 41–51%, emulsion stability: 6–41%), and high amounts of essential amino acids. Protein extracts using E2 and E1 had higher solubility (>60%) over a wide pH range. The proteins and the hydrolysates obtained from the various insects through the different extraction methods had substantial antioxidative activities (<1.0 mg/mL). The hydrolysates from G. maja extracted by E3 and hydrolyzed by enzymes (pepsin + trypsin) had the highest antioxidant activity (56.7 μg/mL). The extraction approaches were feasible with unique specificity in their outcomes, which may benefit food industry in extraction and/or modification of edible insect protein in novel applications for different product formulations.

Natural products hold immense potential for drug discovery, yet many remain unexplored in vast libraries and databases. In an attempt to fill this gap and meet the growing demand for effective drugs, this study delves into the promising world of ent-kaurane diterpenoids, a class of natural products with huge therapeutic potential. With a dataset of 570 ent-kaurane diterpenoids obtained from the literature, we conducted an in silico analysis, evaluating their physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and toxicological properties with a focus on their therapeutic implications. Notably, these natural compounds exhibit drug-like properties, aligning closely with those of FDA-approved drugs, indicating a high potential for drug development. The ranges of the physicochemical parameters were as follows: molecular weights—288.47 to 626.82 g/mol; number of heavy atoms—21 to 44; the number of hydrogen bond donors and acceptors—0 to 8 and 1 to 11, respectively; the number of rotatable bonds—0 to 11; fraction Csp3—0.65 to 1; and TPSA—20.23 to 189.53 Ų. Additionally, the majority of these molecules display favorable safety profiles, with only 0.70%, 1.40%, 0.70%, and 46.49% exhibiting mutagenic, tumorigenic, reproduction-enhancing, and irritant properties, respectively. Importantly, ent-kaurane diterpenoids exhibit promising biopharmaceutical properties. Their average lipophilicity is optimal for drug absorption, while over 99% are water-soluble, facilitating delivery. Further, 96.5% and 28.20% of these molecules exhibited intestinal and brain bioavailability, expanding their therapeutic reach. The predicted pharmacological activities of these compounds encompass a diverse range, including anticancer, immunosuppressant, chemoprotective, anti-hepatic, hepatoprotectant, anti-inflammation, antihyperthyroidism, and anti-hepatitis activities. This multi-targeted profile highlights ent-kaurane diterpenoids as highly promising candidates for further drug discovery endeavors.

Entomocomposting is fast and environmentally friendly, boosts soil quality and crop production, and improves resilience to climate change. The black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) catalyze the composting process, but their efficiency is highly influenced by environmental factors and the quality of the substrate. This study employs response surface methodology to discern physical–chemical factors that influence the nutrient quality of BSF frass fertilizer. Internet of Things (IoT) sensors were deployed to monitor in real-time both independent variables (air temperature, moisture content, humidity, and substrate temperature) and dependent variables (nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium); the data were relayed to the cloud. A non-linear regression model was used to study the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Results showed that air humidity and air temperature did not have a significant effect on nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation in frass fertilizer, respectively, but phosphorus was significantly influenced by air humidity. On the other hand, neither air temperature nor moisture content has a significant effect on potassium concentration in frass fertilizer. We found that an air temperature of 30 °C and 41.5 °C, substrate temperature of 32.5 °C and 35 °C, moisture content between 70 and 80%, and relative humidity beyond 38% can be conducive for the production of high-quality BSF frass fertilizer. Model validation results showed better robustness of prediction with 𝑅2 values of 63–77%, and 𝑅2adj values of 62–76% for nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Our findings highlight the potential for the application of digital tools as a fast and cost-effective decision support system to optimize insect farming for the production of high-quality frass fertilizer for use in sustainable agriculture and crop production.

Entomocomposting is fast and environmentally friendly, boosts soil quality and crop production, and improves resilience to climate change. The black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) catalyze the composting process, but their efficiency is highly influenced by environmental factors and the quality of the substrate. This study employs response surface methodology to discern physical–chemical factors that influence the nutrient quality of BSF frass fertilizer. Internet of Things (IoT) sensors were deployed to monitor in real-time both independent variables (air temperature, moisture content, humidity, and substrate temperature) and dependent variables (nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium); the data were relayed to the cloud. A non-linear regression model was used to study the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Results showed that air humidity and air temperature did not have a significant effect on nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation in frass fertilizer, respectively, but phosphorus was significantly influenced by air humidity. On the other hand, neither air temperature nor moisture content has a significant effect on potassium concentration in frass fertilizer. We found that an air temperature of 30 °C and 41.5 °C, substrate temperature of 32.5 °C and 35 °C, moisture content between 70 and 80%, and relative humidity beyond 38% can be conducive for the production of high-quality BSF frass fertilizer. Model validation results showed better robustness of prediction with 𝑅2 values of 63–77%, and 𝑅2adj values of 62–76% for nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Our findings highlight the potential for the application of digital tools as a fast and cost-effective decision support system to optimize insect farming for the production of high-quality frass fertilizer for use in sustainable agriculture and crop production.

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are serious pests of most food crops, causing up to 100% yield loss. Nevertheless, commercial nematicides are costly and harmful to the environment. While the nematicidal potential of crustacean and synthetic chitin has been demonstrated globally, research on the potential of insect-derived chitin for nematode control has received limited attention. Here, seven chitin-fortified black soldier fly frass fertilizer extracts (chFE) were assessed for their suppressiveness of Meloidogyne incognita and impacts on spinach growth in comparison with a commercial nematicide using in vitro and in vivo bioassays. The performance of chFE and control treatments was assessed by determining their effects on nematode egg hatchability; infective juvenile (J2) mortality and paralysis; number of galls, egg masses, and J2s per plant; and spinach root and shoot biomass. In vitro results showed that chFE and commercial nematicide suppressed nematode egg hatchability by 42% and 52%, respectively, relative to the control (sterile distilled water). Up to 100% paralysis was achieved when M. incognita J2s were exposed to either chFE or commercial nematicide. Further, the J2 mortality achieved using chFE (95%) was comparable to the value achieved using commercial nematicide (96%); in all treatments, mortality increased with exposure time. Similarly, up to 85% suppression of gall development was achieved when spinach plants were grown in soil drenched with chFE; up to 79% reduction in egg mass formation and 68% suppression of J2 development in the root system were achieved using chFE. Also, chFE application significantly increased spinach root and shoot biomass by 54%–74% and 39%–58%, respectively, compared to commercial nematicide. Our findings demonstrate the nematicidal potential of chFE and its benefits on crop production. Thus, chFE could be considered as a promising multipurpose, regenerative, and cost-effective input for sustainable management of plant-parasitic nematodes and enhancement of crop yield.

Potato production faces major challenges from inadequate soil fertility, and nematode infestation, yet synthetic fertilizers and nematicides are costly and harmful to the environment. This study explored the potential of chitin-fortified black soldier fly-composted organic fertilizer (BSFCOF) as a multipurpose organic fertilizer amendment for enhancing potato yield and suppressing potato cyst nematodes (PCN). The BSFCOF was applied at a rate equivalent to 150 kg N ha^-1 and fortified with chitin from black soldier fly pupal exuviae at inclusion rates equivalent to 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% chitin. Data were collected on potato growth characteristics, PCN population densities, and soil chemical properties for two growing cycles. Results showed that chitin fortified BSFCOF significantly improved potato growth parameters, chlorophyll concentration, marketable tuber yield and number of marketable tubers. The marketable tuber yield achieved using chitin-fortified BSFCOF was 70 – 362%, and 69 – 238% higher than the values achieved using unfertilized soil during the first and second growing cycles, respectively. Soil amendment with chitin-fortified BSFCOF significantly reduced the number of cysts per 200 g soil^-1, number of eggs and J2 per cyst^-1, eggs g^-1 soil and reproduction rate by 32 – 87%, 9 – 92%, 31– 98% and 31 – 98%, respectively. The PCN suppression increased with chitin inclusion rates. There were significantly higher values for soil pH, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, available phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and cation exchange capacity in soil amended with BSFCOF compared to unamended soil. This study demonstrates that BSFCOF fortified with 5% chitin is an effective soil enhancer with multiple benefits, including improved soil fertility, potato performance, and effective management of potato cyst nematodes.

Potato production faces major challenges from inadequate soil fertility, and nematode infestation, yet synthetic fertilizers and nematicides are costly and harmful to the environment. This study explored the potential of chitin-fortified black soldier fly-composted organic fertilizer (BSFCOF) as a multipurpose organic fertilizer amendment for enhancing potato yield and suppressing potato cyst nematodes (PCN). The BSFCOF was applied at a rate equivalent to 150 kg N ha^-1 and fortified with chitin from black soldier fly pupal exuviae at inclusion rates equivalent to 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% chitin. Data were collected on potato growth characteristics, PCN population densities, and soil chemical properties for two growing cycles. Results showed that chitin fortified BSFCOF significantly improved potato growth parameters, chlorophyll concentration, marketable tuber yield and number of marketable tubers. The marketable tuber yield achieved using chitin-fortified BSFCOF was 70 – 362%, and 69 – 238% higher than the values achieved using unfertilized soil during the first and second growing cycles, respectively. Soil amendment with chitin-fortified BSFCOF significantly reduced the number of cysts per 200 g soil^-1, number of eggs and J2 per cyst^-1, eggs g^-1 soil and reproduction rate by 32 – 87%, 9 – 92%, 31– 98% and 31 – 98%, respectively. The PCN suppression increased with chitin inclusion rates. There were significantly higher values for soil pH, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, available phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and cation exchange capacity in soil amended with BSFCOF compared to unamended soil. This study demonstrates that BSFCOF fortified with 5% chitin is an effective soil enhancer with multiple benefits, including improved soil fertility, potato performance, and effective management of potato cyst nematodes.

Bioconversion of livestock wastes using insect larvae represents an emerging and effective strategy for waste management. However, knowledge on the role of the garden fruit chafer (Pachnoda sinuata L.) in waste recycling and influence on the diversity of microbial community in frass fertilizer is limited. Here, we determined whether and to what extent the conversion of cattle dung into insect frass fertilizer by P. sinuata influences the frass’ microbial community and its associated antibiotic resistance genes abundance. Pachnoda sinuata larvae were used to valorise cattle dung into frass fertilizer; samples were collected weekly to determine the composition of bacteria and fungi, and antibiotic resistant genes using molecular tools. Results revealed that bioconversion of cattle dung by P. sinuata larvae significantly increased the richness of beneficial bacteria in the frass fertilizer by 2.5-folds within 28 days, but fungal richness did not vary during the study. Treatment of cattle dung with P. sinuata larvae caused 2 – 3-folds decrease in the genes conferring resistance to commonly used antibiotics such as aminoglycoside, diaminopyrimidine, multidrug, sulfonamide and tetracycline within 14 days. Furthermore, the recycling cattle dung using considerably reduced the abundance of mobile genetic elements known to play critical roles in the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between organisms. This study highlights the efficiency of saprohytic insects in recycling animal manure and suppressing manure-borne pathogens in the organic fertilizer products, opening new market opportunities for innovative and safe bio-based products and achieving efficient resource utilization in a circular and green economy.

Rising feed cost challenges due to expensive conventional protein sources continue to make headlines in Africa causing drops in profit margins. We assessed the impact of insect (Hermetia illucens Linnaeus larvae meal, HILM) protein as a substitute for soybean meal and sunflower seed cake on layer chicken performance and profitability. Our results showed that apart from the growers, chicks (12.37 g/bird) and layer hens (2.02 g/bird) fed diets with 75% HILM inclusion levels had significantly higher average daily weight gain. The average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) varied significantly when the chicks and layer hens were provided with the HILM-based diets. For the chicks and layer hens, the lowest ADFI and FCR were observed in birds subjected to diets with 75% and 100% HILM compared to the growers fed diets with 50% HILM. Significantly higher egg production was observed for layer hens fed diets containing 75% of HILM throughout the first (87.41%) and second (83.05%) phase production cycles. Layer hens fed HILM-based diets had a 3–10% increase in egg laying percentage. There was higher profit margins when birds were fed diets containing 75% of HILM (~1.83 and 5.98 US$ per bird), which mirrored the return on investment estimated at 63.95% and 33.36% for the pullets (growers) and laying hen, respectively. Our findings demonstrate that diets with 75% HILM provided optimum growth performance, reduced feeding costs, increased weight gain and egg production as well as improved economic returns for commercial on-farm poultry production systems.

Utilization of quality aqua-feed relies heavily on fish meal sources of protein because of its nutritional balance. However, due to its limited supply, high cost, and decline of wild fish populations, aquaculture production has shifted focus to cheaper and more readily available alternatives to guarantee sustainable aquaculture productivity. Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae are a promising replacement for fish meal in fish diets due to their relatively high crude protein, lipid and mineral contents, and the bioactive potential with anti-microbial, and other probiotic properties. This study determined the effect of partially replacing fish meal with black soldier fly meal (BSFLM) on the growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Four isonitrogenous (30% crude protein) diets in which fish meal protein was gradually substituted with BSFLM were prepared as follows: No BSFLM (control)-T0; 25% (BSFLM25)-T25, 50% (BSFLM50)-T50 and 75% (BSFLM75)-T75. The feeds were fed to the Nile tilapia fingerlings (mean weight 25 ±5 g) which were randomly stocked in 12 cages at a stocking density of 30 fish per cage. The experimental fish were manually fed at 3% of the body weight for 28 days, and 4% of the body weight for 154 days twice a day. The study found that 25% and 50% replacement of fish meal protein with BSFLM resulted in the best growth performance of Nile tilapia, as measured by final mean body weight gain (BWG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and condition factor (K). This suggests that BSFLM is a promising alternative to fish meal in aqua-feeds in the production of Nile tilapia.

Cabbage and Onion production in sub-Saharan Africa face numerous pest constraints that needs to be overcome to feed the rapidly growing population. This study aimed to establish the occurrence, incidence, and severity of soil-dwelling pests of cabbage and onions, and current management practices in five Counties of Kenya. Our findings revealed that most farmers grew hybrid vegetables on a small scale, which were highly dominated by various pest species (Delia platura, Maladera sp., and Agriotes sp. for cabbage and Atherigona orientalis and Urophorus humeralis for onion. The occurrence, incidence and severity of the various pest species on both crops varied considerably. Over 95% of the farmers relied on synthetic insecticides, which were applied weekly or bimonthly with limited success. Our findings demonstrate that invasive and polyphagous A. orientalis and D. platura were the most devastating pests of onion and cabbage without effective control options. Therefore, effective, sustainable, and affordable management strategies are required to control the spread of these pests to other crops in the region.

Wheat bread is among stable foods that are nutritionally imbalanced, thus enrichment is crucial. We evaluated the nutritional impact of high-valued wheat bread enriched with varying levels of meat powder from hen fed diet with insect (Hermetia illucens)-based meal. Crude protein and ash in bread increased with increasing inclusion of meat powder. Limiting amino acids like lysine and threonine in enriched bread products increased by 3.0–4.5 and 1.8–3.1-folds, respectively. Omega 3 fatty acids were significantly enhanced in bread fortified with meat powder. Vitamins (retinol, nicotinic acid, and pantothenic acid) were significantly increased in supplemented bread products. Iron, zinc, and calcium increased by 1.1, 1.2 and 3.0-folds in enriched bread with 30% meat powder. Colour, flavour and overall acceptability of breads prepared with 25 and 30% meat powder were highly ranked. Our findings demonstrate that meat powder (i.e., from hen fed insect-based diets) enrichment would provide added health and nutritional benefits to bread products without having adverse effects on any functional or sensory properties. Thus, this could be a novel strategy and trend for improving bread products, that might generate increasing demand for a healthier consumer-oriented lifestyle.

Edible insects are gaining traction worldwide for research and development. This review synthesizes a large and well-established body of research literature on the high nutritional value and variety of pharmacological properties of edible insects. Positive benefits of insect-derived products include immune enhancement; gastrointestinal protection; antitumor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory capacities; antibacterial activities; blood lipid and glucose regulation; lowering of blood pressure; and decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, the pharmacological mechanisms of these active components of edible insects in humans have received limited research attention. In addition, we discuss health risks (safety); application prospects; regulations and policies governing their production and consumption with a view to promote innovations, intraglobal trade, and economic development; and suggestions for future directions for further pharmacological functional studies. The aim is to review the current state of knowledge and research trends on edible insects as functional ingredients beneficial to the nutrition and health of humans and animals (livestock, aquatic species, and pets).

Consumption of insects is an ancient practice that is common among many cultures with more than 2 billion people in 113 countries across the world practising entomophagy (van Huis, 2013). More than 2,000 species of edible insects have been recorded worldwide out of which 470 species occur in Africa (van Huis, 2013; Kelemu et al., 2015). The rapid growth in human population and increased demand of animal proteins has drawn more interest on the use of insects as food and feed to mitigate food insecurity and malnutrition (Kewuyemi et al., 2020; Babarinde et al., 2021). Edible insects have a rich profile of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins, and bioactive compounds that are essential for human health and nutrition (Zhou et al., 2022). Their high nutrient content, availability and low cost of production has increased their use as a substitute protein source in animal feed (van Huis et al., 2013; Tanga et al., 2021).

Rapid population and economic growth, increased health benefits of aquatic food, and changes in lifestyles and preferences as a result of rapid urbanization and globalization are all contributing to the rapid growth of aquaculture production in Kenya. Despite significant investment efforts from the national and devolved governments as well as donors and international organizations, smallholder aquaculture production is yet to result in a significant increase in incomes and improved food and nutrition security. We conducted a scoping review to investigate the roles of multilateral development organizations, international financial institutions, and public and private investments in Kenya’s aquaculture subsector. We draw on lessons learned from previous projects implemented at the national, county, and farm levels to make recommendations for sustainable aquaculture intensification in Kenya. To unlock Kenya’s aquaculture potential and improve its food and nutrition status, deliberate efforts must be made to create a conducive environment for public and private investment in the industry. First, there is a need to coordinate and clearly articulate the roles and responsibilities among devolved and national governments, donors, and financial institutions through public-private partnerships to ensure optimal allocation of financial, human, and infrastructure resources. Second, more collaborative research should be devoted to the design and construction of climate smart culture systems, developing new species to guarantee supply of high-quality products; developing and scaling low-cost and highly nutritious fish feeds based on novel ingredients; and enhancing resilient livelihoods through innovative aquaculture practices and market linkages to create employment opportunities for youth and women. Finally, the national and devolved governments should create an enabling policy environment through tax incentives and regulatory reforms to combat climate change, protect nature and biodiversity, sustain livelihoods, and mainstream food and nutrition initiatives into the design and implementation of future aquaculture projects.

Given the need to boost food production while guaranteeing environmental sustainability, the black soldier fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens (L.), Diptera: Stratiomyidae) is gaining traction worldwide as an alternative protein source. In Kenya, BSF production and its use as a feed component is an emerging business, but farmer awareness of the potential use of BSF in animal feed has received limited attention. This study examined the factors influencing farmer awareness of insect farming and its usefulness as ingredient in livestock feed from a gender perspective. The analysis employed a mixed-methods approach by combining binary logistic regression analysis using cross-sectional survey data from a sub-sample of 235 pig and poultry farmers and content analysis from in-depth phone interviews. The study was implemented in Kiambu County, Kenya. About 44% of the farmers were aware of the use of black soldier fly in the animal feed industry, of which 46.72% were female, and 41.59% were male. From the results, years of education, the number of chickens owned, and membership in agricultural groups significantly influenced male and female farmers’ awareness. In addition, age and the number of pigs owned significantly influenced female farmers’ awareness. The results suggest that these factors are important to consider when strategies are developed to create awareness of BSF farming. Lessons learned from this study will inform BSF dissemination strategies to better target potential men and women BSF producers, influence their decision-making ability and improve information flows between scientists and producers.

In recent years, farming the black soldier fly (BSF) Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomydiae) has gained popularity across the globe due to its usefulness mainly in animal feed production and waste management. The short cycle time taken to rear the BSF and the high protein content present in its larvae makes it a suitable source of feed for a variety of animals (e.g., poultry, fish, and pigs); the livestock bred as food for humans. However, despite the farming of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) as a source of feed, its production levels are low and do not meet the existing market demand. This study explored data science and machine learning modeling approaches to discern optimal rearing conditions for improved BSFL farming. The random forest regressor machine learning algorithm gave the best prediction results. The algorithm also ranked the variables that contributed most to the prediction of the expected larvae weight. Given the studied rearing conditions, the prediction algorithm can discern and predict the expected weight of BSFL to be harvested. Tuning the production system parameters according to the order of the ranked parameters can further optimize the production of BSFL. BSFL are a source of feed for the animals that are a source of food for humans; therefore, this research contributes to alleviating food insecurity.

Recently, interest in the black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) gut microbiome has received increased attention primarily due to their role in waste bioconversion. However, there is a lack of information on the positive effect on the activities of the gut microbiomes and enzymes (CAZyme families) acting on lignocellulose. In this study, BSFL were subjected to lignocellulose-rich diets: chicken feed (CF), chicken manure (CM), brewers’ spent grain (BSG), and water hyacinth (WH). The mRNA libraries were prepared, and RNA-Sequencing was conducted using the PCR-cDNA approach through the MinION sequencing platform. Our results demonstrated that BSFL reared on BSG and WH had the highest abundance of Bacteroides and Dysgonomonas. The presence of GH51 and GH43_16 enzyme families in the gut of BSFL with both α-L-arabinofuranosidases and exo-alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase 2 were common in the BSFL reared on the highly lignocellulosic WH and BSG diets. Gene clusters that encode hemicellulolytic arabinofuranosidases in the CAZy family GH51 were also identified. These findings provide novel insight into the shift of gut microbiomes and the potential role of BSFL in the bioconversion of various highly lignocellulosic diets to fermentable sugars for subsequent value-added products (bioethanol). Further research on the role of these enzymes to improve existing technologies and their biotechnological applications is crucial.

Deploying Internet of Things sensors in remote agricultural areas presents formidable challenges, especially for real-time monitoring of crops, farmland habitats, and livestock farms where traditional communication infrastructure is absent. This paper introduces ’Mesh-in-the-Sky,’ an innovative approach utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as signal nodes in areas lacking cellular and Long-Range coverage. By establishing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles-based communication networks, this method extends connectivity to remote, out-of-coverage zones, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and costeffectiveness
while ensuring robust, secure data transmission through Unmanned Aerial Vehicle links. Comprehensive lab and field trials validate the efficacy of the ’Mesh-in-the-Sky’ solution, demonstrating its capability to establish reliable communication beyond line-of-sight constraints using Unmanned Aerial Vehiclesenabled data links.

This paper details the development and training of a multimodal neural network designed for the analysis of optical and acoustic data streams. Solution described here is one of the user products developed as a result of NESTLER project, a Horizon 2020 project which proposes the implementation of an environmentally sustainable, integrated technological and information solutions for agriculture. The primary outcome of this research is the establishment of the Poultry Quality of Life Index. This index enables the use of advanced mathematical diagnostics to evaluate and forecast the health status of poultry flocks. Poultry Health Monitoring System, developed based on the Poultry Quality of Life Index, enables timely interventions to minimize damage from the negative impact of external factors. By leveraging the PQL Index, the system can accurately evaluate the health status of the flock and promptly identify signs of distress or potential threats. By continuously monitoring the flock’s health and environmental conditions, the system can detect early signs of distress or potential threats. This proactive approach allows for immediate corrective actions, thereby reducing the impact of negative influences on the flock’s wellbeing and overall productivity.

The evolution in design philosophy for a portable test instrument for estimating the starch content of cassava roots is described. The instrument uses a radio frequency reflectometry technique to measure return loss using a coaxial probe. An on-board microprocessor then determines the starch content of the cassava sample based on a pre-stored calibration table. The design evolution started with a minimum viable hardware platform that was used for proof of concept and to gather preliminary field data. The next generation added wireless connectivity for cloud data collection and analysis, user interface improvements and rechargeable battery capability. Design focus then shifted to cost reduction, robustness and suitability for mass production so that the instrument can be put into the hands of farmers.

This research explores the use of radio frequency (RF) return loss measurement to characterize cassava quality and estimate the starch content of cassava roots, with new equivalent circuit models presented. While pure starch is non-conductive, the content of charged ions in the raw composite cassava flour provides a potential marker for estimating the starch content of cassava, which is important for the design of quality measurement devices based on the return loss method. The study also raises questions for further exploration, such as understanding the pattern of distribution of the electrolytic components in a fresh root and exploring the relationships between these ions and other properties of cassava. Overall, these new findings offer new directions for research and development in the field of food quality assessment.

Potato production in Africa is highly affected by low soil fertility and nematode infestation. The use of mineral fertilizers and synthetic nematicides remains unsustainable due to high costs and negative impacts on humans and environmental health. This study assessed the potential of black soldier fly-composted frass fertilizer (BSFCFF) in the management of potato cyst nematodes and enhancing potato yield under open field conditions.

Bulb onion is among the most consumed vegetables in Sub-Saharan Africa, but its production is significantly constrained by soil-dwelling pests, especially the onion root flies that double as vectors. This study evaluated the insecticidal potential of chitin-enhanced black soldier fly (BSF) frass fertilizer extracts as a sustainable alternative for management of the onion fly pest.

Black soldier fly frass fertilizer (BSFFF) has gained global prominence due to its potential to enhance soil health and crop production. However, there is limited knowledge about its performance on leguminous crops. This study evaluated the comparative effect of BSFFF and other commercial fertilizers on the growth, yield and profitability of bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) (Rosecoco GLP2).

In Africa, insect farming is a rapidly growing agribusiness, coupled to the rising demand for alternative proteins for food and feed. This review highlights the status and emerging gaps in edible insect farming, role of private sectors, potential estimates; processing, nutritional composition, safety, application, and legislative framework governing the industry.

The increasing human population, income growth, and urbanization trends in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have led to a consistent rise in the demand for animal-sourced food. Simultaneously, rapid urban expansion produces significant quantities of biowaste, posing ecological and food security challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with regional geopolitical conflicts, further disrupted the already delicate food, feed, and fertilizer markets, shedding light on Africa’s fragile food system.

The role of insects as nature-based recyclers have given rise to captive mass rearing worldwide. However, no information exists on transformative ability of garden fruit chafer (Pachnoda sinuata L.) to recycle waste into value added products. This study evaluated the nutrient quality, maturity, stability, and agronomic effectiveness of P. sinuata composted fertilizer on vegetable production and associated nutrient quality.