The Influence of some Social Factors on the Acceptance of Entomophagy Within University Campus Community in Nigeria
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Abstract
There are increased calls for the use of less conventional animal protein sources like edible insects to feed the fast-growing population of the world. Edible insects are culturally acceptable and their production poses less threat to the environment. However, their consumption is beginning to dwindle due to the influence of Western culture. The study examined some social factors that affect the acceptance of entomophagy among a campus community in Nigeria. A total of 138 respondents were surveyed using a random sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U-test, Z-test, Chi-square, Cramér’s statistics and Spearman correlation. The results showed that about 85.51% of the respondents had once tasted edible insects, 88% of them were introduced to entomophagy by family and friends, 60% obtained edible insects through hunting, 60% mostly consume grasshoppers and only about 58% were willing to continue eating edible insects in the future. Gender, religion and tribal affiliations do not influence entomophagy among the respondents. However, social factors like age, education, status, residency period, parents’ education and occupation significantly (P<0.05) affect entomophagy. The younger generation showed propensity to reject entomophagy, while the highly educated showed tendency to continue consuming edible insects. The level of association between entomophagy and these social factors suggests that the attitude to reject entomophagy is probably at its formative stage and proper enlightenment, especially of the younger ones on the benefits of the consumption of edible insects could increase the acceptability of entomophagy among them.
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Oriolowo, O. B., Joseph, O. J., & Daramola, O. T. (2026). The Influence of some Social Factors on the Acceptance of Entomophagy Within University Campus Community in Nigeria. The Bioscientist Journal, 14(1), 11-27. https://doi.org/10.54117/the_bioscientist.v14i1.201
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
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Asp, E. A. (1999). Factors affecting food decisions made by individual consumer. Food policy, 2, 287-294
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Petersen, M., Olson, O. & Rao, S. (2020). University Student Perspectives of Entomophagy: Positive Attitudes Lead to Observability and Education Opportunities. Journal of Insect Science, 20(5), 1-6. https://doi:10.1093/jisesa/ieaa120
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Randall, E. & Sanjur, D. (1981). Food preferences – their conceptualization and relationship to consumption. Ecology of Food and Nutrition. 11(3): 151-161.
Ribeiro, J. C., Sousa-Pinto, B., Fonseca, J. S., Fonseca, S. C. & Cunha, L. M. (2021). Edible insects and food safety: allergy. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 7, 833-847.
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Schrader, J., Oonincx, D. G. A. B. & Ferreira, M. P. (2016). North American entomophagy. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed. 2: 111-120.
Shepherd, R. & Raats, M. (1996). Attitudes and beliefs in food habits. In: H. L. Meiselman, H. MacFie, (eds) Food choice, acceptance and consumption. Springer, Boston, MA, USA. 346-362pp. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1221-5
Sogari. G., Menozzi, D. & Mora, C. (2019). The food neophobia scale and young adults’ intention to eat insect products. Int J Consum Stud 43(1): 68-76.
Srivastava, S. K., Babu, N. & Pandey, H. (200). Traditional insect bioprospecting- As human and medicine. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 8(4), 485-494
Tao, J. & Li, Y.O. (20180. Edible insects as a means to address global malnutrition and food insecurity issues. Food Quality and Safety, 2:17-26
Teffo, L. S., Toms, R. B. & Eloff, J. N. (2017). Preliminary data on the nutritional composition of the edible stink-bug, Encosternum delegorguei, consumed in Limpopo province, South Africa. South Afr. J. Sci., 103, 434 - 436.
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Vane-Wright, R. I. (1991). Why Not Eat Insects? Bulletin of Entomological Research, 81, 1-4
Yamane, T. (1967). Statistics: An introductory Analysis, 2nd Edition, New York, Harper and Row.
Yuksel, E. & Canhital, R. (2017). A survey of public opinion about entomophagy in Eeciyes University. International Journal of Agriculture and Wildlife Science (IJAWS), 4(2), 203-208. https://doi:10.24180/ijaws.440555
Adeyemi, O., Toure, M., Covic, N., van den Bold M., Nisbett, N. & Headey, D. (2022) Understanding drivers of stunting reduction in Nigeria from 2003 to 2018: a regression analysis. Food Security, 1-17.
Anankware, J. P., Osekre E. A., Obeng-Ofori, D. & Khamala, C. M. (2017) Factors that affect entomophagical practices in Ghana. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 3(1), 33-41. https://doi.org/10.3920/JIFF2016.0007
Ancha, P. U., Ikyaagba, E. T. & Kaor, C. D. (2021). Consumers’ acceptance and willingness to pay for edible insects in Makurdi metropolis, Benue state, Nigeria. Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, 13(4), 159-170.
Alamu, O. T., Amao, A. O., Nwokedi, C. I., Oke, O. A. & Lawal, I. O. (2013). Diversity and nutritional status of edible insects in Nigeria: A review. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 5(4), 215-222. http://DOI:10.5897/IJBC12.121
Amar, Z. (2003) The Eating of Locusts in Jewish Tradition after the Talmudic period. The Torah Madda Journal. 11: 186-202.
Asp, E. A. (1999). Factors affecting food decisions made by individual consumer. Food policy, 2, 287-294
Aung, M., Dürr, J., Borgemeister, C. & Börner, J. (2023). Factors affecting consumption of edible insects as food: entomophagy in Myanmar. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 9(6): 721-739
Baghele, M., Mishra, S., Mayer-Rochow, V. B., Jung, C. & Ghosh, S. (2022). A review of the nutritional potential of edible snails: A sustainable underutilized food resource. Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources. 13(4): 419-433
Chang, R. C. Y., Kivela, J. & Mak, A. H. N. (2010). Food preferences of Chinese tourists. Annals of Tourism Research, 37(4), 989-1011.
Cramér, H. (1948) Mathematical methods of statistics. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA, 282 pp.
El-Mallakh, O. S. & El-Mallakh, R. S. (1994). Insects of the Qur’an (Koran). American Entomologist, 40, 82-84
Emmanuel, O. E., Ogbe, O. C., Ehilen, O. E. & Ehiwario, N. J. (2025). Nutritional compostion of four edible insects in southern Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 38:5199-5206
F. A. O (2014) Second international conference on nutrition better nutrition better lives. Available from: http://www.fao.org/about/meetings/icn2/toolkit/keymessages/en/
F. A. O. (2017). The State of Food Insecurity in the World. FAO, Rome. Food and Feed. 1(2): 121-129. https://doi.org/10.3920/jiff2014.0014
Ghosh, S., Jung, C., Meyer-Rochow, V. B. & Dekebo, A. (2019) Perception of entomophagy by residents of Korea and Ethiopia revealed through structured questionnaire. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed 6: 59-64. https://doi.org/10.3920/JIFF2019.0013
Hlongwane, Z. T., Slotow, R. & Munyai, T. C. (2021). Indigenous knowledge about the consumption of edible insects in South Africa. Insects, 12(1), 22. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12010022
Jacob, A. A., Emenike, A. F., Arowore, K., Olusegun, O. & Anugwon, U. (2013). Entomophaga: A Panacea for protein deficiency-malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Science, 5(6): 25-31
Liu, A. J., Li, J. & Gomez, M. I. (2020). Factors influencing consumption of edible insects for Chinese consumers. Insects 11: 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11010010
Mwiinga, L., Ogara, S. & Chaamwe, N. (2022). The Influence of Mobile Apps and Media, Towards Entomophagy Awareness and Acceptability. International Journal of Advanced Research, 5(1), 131-144. https://doi.org/10.37284/ijar.5.1.824
National Population Commission (NPC) [Nigeria] and ICF International (2014). Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2013. Abuja, Nigeria, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NPC and ICF International.
NBS (2022) Nigerian Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). National Bureau of Statistics Report 2022. 184pp. https://nigerianstat.gov.ng
Petersen, M., Olson, O. & Rao, S. (2020). University Student Perspectives of Entomophagy: Positive Attitudes Lead to Observability and Education Opportunities. Journal of Insect Science, 20(5), 1-6. https://doi:10.1093/jisesa/ieaa120
Population Reference Bureau (2013) “2013 World Population Data Sheet.” Available at: http://www.prb.org/pdf13/2013 population-data-sheet.eng.
PUNCH (2022) Nigeria must address malnutrition; 2400 children die daily-UNICEF. Punch news November 18, 2022. www.punch.org
Randall, E. & Sanjur, D. (1981). Food preferences – their conceptualization and relationship to consumption. Ecology of Food and Nutrition. 11(3): 151-161.
Ribeiro, J. C., Sousa-Pinto, B., Fonseca, J. S., Fonseca, S. C. & Cunha, L. M. (2021). Edible insects and food safety: allergy. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 7, 833-847.
Sachs, J., Schmidt-Traub, G., Kroll, C., Durand-Delacre, D. & Teksoz, K. (2017). SDG Index and Dashboards Report 2017. New York: Bertelsmann Stiftung and Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
Schrader, J., Oonincx, D. G. A. B. & Ferreira, M. P. (2016). North American entomophagy. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed. 2: 111-120.
Shepherd, R. & Raats, M. (1996). Attitudes and beliefs in food habits. In: H. L. Meiselman, H. MacFie, (eds) Food choice, acceptance and consumption. Springer, Boston, MA, USA. 346-362pp. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1221-5
Sogari. G., Menozzi, D. & Mora, C. (2019). The food neophobia scale and young adults’ intention to eat insect products. Int J Consum Stud 43(1): 68-76.
Srivastava, S. K., Babu, N. & Pandey, H. (200). Traditional insect bioprospecting- As human and medicine. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 8(4), 485-494
Tao, J. & Li, Y.O. (20180. Edible insects as a means to address global malnutrition and food insecurity issues. Food Quality and Safety, 2:17-26
Teffo, L. S., Toms, R. B. & Eloff, J. N. (2017). Preliminary data on the nutritional composition of the edible stink-bug, Encosternum delegorguei, consumed in Limpopo province, South Africa. South Afr. J. Sci., 103, 434 - 436.
UNDP (2022). Uncertain times, unsettled lives: Shaping our future in a transforming world. Human Development Report 2022. United Nations Development Programme. New York, NY 10017. pp 320. www.undp.org
UNICEF (2015a). UNICEF for every child: Nutrition. Annual Results 2015. Report. New York, NY 10017, USA. Pp 93. www.unicef.org
UNICEF Nigeria (2015b). United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund Maternal and child health. https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/children_1926.html
UNICEF (2017). The State of the World’s Children. Available at:https://www.unicef.org/sowc/
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (2022). Human Development Report. NewYork, NY 10017. pp 320. www.undp.org
World Bank (2019). World Bank development report; building human capital. The reason why the government should get involved, pp 49-52. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/
Van Huis, A., Van Itterbeeck, J., Klunder, H., Mertens, E., Halloran, A., Muir, G. & Vantomme, P. (2016). Edible insects: prospects for food and feed security. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy, FAO Forestry Paper no. 171, 201pp. Available at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3253e/i3253e.pdf.
Vane-Wright, R. I. (1991). Why Not Eat Insects? Bulletin of Entomological Research, 81, 1-4
Yamane, T. (1967). Statistics: An introductory Analysis, 2nd Edition, New York, Harper and Row.
Yuksel, E. & Canhital, R. (2017). A survey of public opinion about entomophagy in Eeciyes University. International Journal of Agriculture and Wildlife Science (IJAWS), 4(2), 203-208. https://doi:10.24180/ijaws.440555