Browsing by Author "Egonyu, James Peter"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Global progress in domesticating edible crickets : a review.
    (Springer Nature, 2025) Sengendo, Francis; Egonyu, James Peter; Valtonen, Anu; Nyeko, Philip; Alaroker, Martha Franny; Malinga, Geoffrey Maxwell; Miert, Sabine Van
    Crickets are among the most consumed insects worldwide and are one of the few edible insect species that have received significant attention for domestication as a sustainable alternative to wild harvests. However, information on domesticated cricket species and the extent of cricket farming in different parts of the world is scanty and scattered in literature, which is an impediment to the development of the sector. This review analyzed the global progress in the domestication of edible crickets in relation to species being consumed, developments in cricket farming technology, and the levels of domestication, as well as challenges faced in the domestication process. Information was collated from published research articles and edible insect platforms (International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed and Asian Food and Feed Insect Association). Despite the global consumption of 62 cricket species, we found that only 14 have successfully undergone domestication. Among the commonly domesticated species are Acheta domesticus, Gryllus bimaculatus, Gryllodes sigillatus, Gryllus assimilis, and Teleogryllus testaceus. Researchers have developed effective methods for rearing crickets using different by-products at a wide range of temperatures. Asia is the leading continent in cricket farming, with the highest number of cricket farmers in Thailand (22,000), followed by America, Europe, and lastly Africa. Generally, cricket farming is constrained by expensive feeds, markets, regulations, and policies. We recommend that promotion of cricket farming globally should focus on having harmonized regulations and policies, increasing consumer acceptability, developing rearing protocols for more species, alternative low-cost feeds, and automating rearing systems.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Growth, survival and nutritional composition of the edible long-horned Grasshopper Ruspolia differens (Serville) reared on diets from oil seed by-products.
    (Springer Nature, 2025) Sengendo, Francis; Egonyu, James Peter; Valtonen, Anu; Noyens, Isabelle; Angwech, Harriet; Alaroker, Martha Franny; Nyeko, Philip; Malinga, Geoffrey Maxwell; Miert, Sabine Van
    The long-horned edible grasshopper Ruspolia differens (Serville) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) is a significant food source in Southern and Eastern Africa due to its rich nutritional profile. The declining yields from wild harvests have driven research into developing methods for mass rearing of R. differens. Despite extensive efforts, identifying cost-effective nutritious diets has been challenging. This study tested eight diets including seven diets constituted from oil seed by-products, i.e., sunflower seed cake, shea seed cake, oil palm seed cake and one control diet (germinated finger millet). The experiment was arranged as a randomised unreplicated block design. Survival of neonates to adults and adult weight of R. differens reared on sole sunflower seed cake and combinations of either oil palm seed cake or shea seed cake with germinated finger millet were statistically comparable to the R. differens reared on sole germinated finger millet (control); whereas no R. differens survived on any of the diets containing shea seed cake and the sole oil palm seed cake diet. Germinated finger millet increased the insect’s crude fat, carbohydrates and mono-unsaturated fatty acids. Conversely, R. differens reared on oil seed by-products-based diets had the highest contents of protein, minerals and polyunsaturated fatty acids than those raised on germinated finger millet. We conclude that (i) sole sunflower seed cake and/or a combination of the same or oil palm seed cake with 50% germinated finger millet are alternative diets to sole germinated finger millet in the mass rearing of R. differens and (ii) the diets based on oil seed by-products can be used to enhance the content of protein, mineral and polyunsaturated fatty acids of R. differens. We recommend further studies to increase the content of alpha linolenic acid in these diets to produce R. differens which is more nutritionally suitable for human consumption.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Insect-based organic waste recycling technology : potential and bottlenecks for large-scale application in the bioeconomy.
    (Springer Nature, 2025) Nabaterega, Resty; Kavuma, Chrish; Darr, Dietrich; Egonyu, James Peter
    Organic waste in the agriculture and food value chains contribute between 8–10% to global greenhouse gas emissions, limits progress towards accomplishing global food security and aggravates environmental impacts of intensive agriculture. In particular, in urban areas, organic waste is produced at a rate of one billion tons per year and it is projected to reach 1.7 billion tons by 2050. Innovative ways of recycling organic waste are therefore urgently required. Insect-based waste recycling presents a novel pathway to organic waste management in line with bioeconomy principles. Insects can convert different types of waste biomass into useful products such as nutritious animal feeds, biofuel, and organic fertilizer. To attain the full benefits of insects in waste recycling, they must be reared in a controlled environment at an industrial scale. However, many research gaps need to be addressed to achieve this development. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review on various insect-based waste recycling techniques, including industrialization, bioproducts, challenges as well as opportunities of insect-based waste recycling, while highlighting the research gaps. In conclusion, the increasing interest of investors, municipalities and development stakeholders in insect-based waste recycling technologies has exposed various technological and knowledge gaps which must be closed to fully unlock its potential to contribute to the bioeconomy transformation of the organic waste sector.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Morphometrics, molecular, and reproductive parameters of Rhynchophorus morphotypes F. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Ghana.
    (Springer Nature, 2025) Anankware, Jacob Paarechuga; Debrah, Shadrack Kwaku; Asomah, Shadrack; Egonyu, James Peter; Niassy, Saliou; Fathiya, Khamis; Obeng-Ofori, Daniel
    Palm weevils are widely distributed throughout Ghana causing severe economic injuries to palm plantations. However, the description and categorisation of palm weevil species based on the morphology in Ghana are lacking. This study sought to identify and determine the morphometrics and reproductive parameters of different Rhynchophorus morphotypes in Ghana. Out of 2367 larvae that were sourced from infested plantation sites by handpicking in the Middle Belt (Kobedi, Diabaa, Asuhyiae, Nsuta, Tanoso, Bomaa, and Akrodie) and Southern Ghana (Fumesua, Kubease, and Donyina), one thousand and two hundred (1200) larvae each weighing 5 g were used for the study. These larvae were allowed to cocoon and pupate, and the adults that emerged were described and categorised into different morphotypes using morphological description keys of Rhynchophorus species. Three Rhynchophorus morphotypes were identified and described; rusty red weevil with black spots on the pronotum (RRW), black weevil with two red stripes on the pronotum (BWS), and black weevil without a longitudinal stripe on the pronotum (BW). The fecundity and female longevity of morphotypes of BWS and BW were superior to mature RRW female morphotype. The RRW morphotype may require more generations to adapt to the conditions in Ghana to improve on its life history parameters. The lowest fecundity of the RRW morphotype could be an advantage to limiting its spread across palm plantation sites in Ghana.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Post‑harvest handling, processing and value addition of edible insects as a sustainable food resource in Africa : a review.
    (Springer, 2025) Akullo, Jolly Oder; Egonyu, James Peter; Ng’ang’a, Jeremiah; Kiiru, Samuel; Mmari, Mercy; Ndiritu, Alex; Maimba, Zipporah Wangari; Salano, Fedha Monicha; Kinyuru, John
    Edible insects at different developmental stages like larvae, pupae and adults serve as food resources across the globe. They are rich in nutrients such as protein, fat, essential vitamins and minerals. Since recent decades, there is a growing interest in utilising edible insects as part of the sustainable solutions to malnutrition and food insecurity in the world. This review analyses the current advances in post-harvest processes and value addition in edible insects, focusing on development of modern processing technologies, use of insects in food enrichment in order to improve their nutritional profile, palatability as well as extraction of high value industrial products/compounds from the insects. Presently, most edible insects are harvested from the wild and traditionally processed through boiling, roasting, frying, smoking, solar drying, stewing, steaming, drying and pounding or a combination of these methods. To increase consumer interest in insects, various novel technologies have been developed particularly aiming at using insects as ingredients in a non-recognizable form, such as powders or flour to enrich and supplement food products. Insect-based bakery products such as bread, biscuits, muffins, crackers, cookies, complementary food and porridges are the most common products. The most popular insects reported in food enrichment include crickets, winged termites, mealworms, palm weevil larvae, locusts, and grasshoppers. Technologies for extraction of insect components like chitin, fat/oil, and protein for application as ingredients in food industry are still being developed. Conventional food products with 5% insect powder inclusion are highly acceptable to consumers in Africa. Keywords Processing · Food enrichment · Insect products