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Review
. 2025 Mar:44:100834.
doi: 10.1016/j.gfs.2025.100834.

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

Zewdu Abro  1 , Kibrom T Sibhatu  1 , Gebeyehu Manie Fetene  2 , Mohammed Hussen Alemu  3 , Chrysantus M Tanga  1 , Subramanian Sevgan  1 , Menale Kassie  1
Affiliations
Review

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

Zewdu Abro et al. Glob Food Sec. 2025 Mar.

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

We declare there are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flow diagram for selection and inclusion of studies.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The number of reviewed studies (n = 128, data points = 383) focusing on insects for food, feed, or meat derived from animals fed insects-based diets.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Willingness to try edible insects as food, measured as a percentage of participants. Data are based on 71 studies (151 data points).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Willingness to try edible insects as food, measured using a Likert scale. Data are based on 40 studies (171 data points).
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Willingness to pay for bakery products containing BSF fat. The authors developed this figure based on findings reported by Delicato et al. (2020).
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Willingness to consume animal products derived from insect-based feed. Fig. 6A represents data from 13 studies (26 data points). Fig. 6B represents data from 4 studies (12 data points).
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
WTP for fillets derived from fish fed a diet containing edible insects. The authors developed this figure based on the findings reported by Llagostera et al. (2019).
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Willingness to try edible insects as feed, measured as a percentage of participants. Data are based on 13 studies (16 data points).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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