Browsing by Author "Sengendo, Francis"

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    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.
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    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.
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    Supplementation of maize bran with either sunflower or oil palm seed cakes improves growth and nutritional value of the edible house cricket (Acheta domesticus).
    (Wiley, 2025) Sengendo, Francis; Egonyu, Peter James; Valtonen, Anu; Noyens, Isabelle; Angwech, Harriet; Alaroker, Franny Martha; Nyeko, Philip; Malinga, Maxwell Geoffrey; Miert, Van Sabine
    The house cricket, Acheta domesticus (Linnaeus) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) is one of the major insects successfully domesticated for food around the world. However, expensive feed is still a major challenge in the production of the insect, leading to low returns. This study aimed at developing an alternative diet for mass rearing of A. domesticus. We tested five diets, namely commercial chicken mash (CCM; control diet), maize bran supplemented with 50% sunflower seed cake (SFC50), 50% shea seed cake (SBC50), 50% oil palm seed cake (POC50), and 25% maize bran+25% of each of the oil seed cakes (MSSP25). The experiment was arranged as a randomized unreplicated block design with 50 blocks, each containing one replicate of each diet treatment. Survival of A. domesticus fed on maize bran supplemented with either sunflower seed cake or oil palm seed cake was comparable to that of those fed on the control diet. However, emerging adults on oil seed supplemented diets (SFC50 and POC50) were heavier than their counterparts raised on the control diet. The shortest development time was observed among A. domesticus fed on 50% sunflower seed cake compared to all other diets. Acheta domesticus fed on the control diet was richer in protein, while those reared on maize bran supplemented with either sunflower seed cake or oil palm seed cake contained higher levels of fat, minerals (sodium, calcium, and iron) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). We conclude that supplementation of maize bran with 50% of either sunflower seed cake or oil palm seed cake improves survival and weight gain of A. domesticus and shortens their development time. In addition, these diets modify the nutritional composition of A. domesticus, especially lipids, minerals, and PUFAs. We recommend the use of SFC50 and POC50 as alternative diets to commercial chicken mash in the mass production of A. domesticus. KEYWORDS: circular economy, dietary supplementation, fatty acids, mass production, minerals, nutritional composition, nutritional profile, oil seed cake, orthoptera, proximate composition