ABSTRACT
Food choices are nothing more than ways of communication between individuals and their social groups. In general, food choices depend primarily on food access and availability and also on what is known, learned, believed, and felt about a particular type of food. Changing eating habits is not a simple process, since human eating behavior is complex, and the formation of new habits requires food reeducation and an understanding of choices. Anthropocene is what we call the time we live in today, an era in which we must recognize the irreversible impacts that our existence has on the environment and the urgent need to recognize and take responsibility for our actions. The search for food from alternative and sustainable sources is deeply linked to potential food shortages, the health challenges of growing and aging populations, and concern for the environment. Insects have always been relevant in human life, and today, we know this potential; thus, we must review their place within the global food system. The great contradiction in the repudiation of edible insects as human food lies in the fact that insects may have played an important role in our collective past, shaping what it means to be ‘human.’ Food systems that incorporate edible insects or even that have them as ingredients can have the potential to contribute to more sustainable solutions for the planet, and they may be a fundamental instrument to work towards fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals that fall within the collective efforts and multisectoral approaches of the UN 2030 Agenda. The European Food Safety Authority published, in 2021, the first scientific opinion on the safety of Tenébrio Molitor larvae to be marketed for human consumption. Edible insects represent a valuable source of protein, and many have similar or greater nutritional value than conventional food sources such as animal products and soybean. Despite neophobia, industrial-scale production and sustainable insect breeding can improve access to healthy diets for the population and promote the development of more sustainable food systems, with the potential to alleviate food insecurity, stimulate the development of markets, and provide a source of income for small entrepreneurs. Considering the current threats to food systems, including COVID-19, this topic is very timely as it provides evidence to stimulate international debate on the topic of ‘edible insects’ and how breeding and processing technologies can mitigate the deleterious actions related to them, the environment, and food insecurity on the planet.
