Liceo Scientifico A. Messedaglia

INSECTS AS FOOD: A CHALLENGE FOR

FUTURE GENERATIONS Elena Bertamè1, Anna Berzacola1, Giacomo Bucci2, Elisa Dal Maso1, Denise De Beni1, Laura Giusti1,

Chiara Granuzzo1, Chiara Marchesini2, Riccardo Moro2, Caterina Mozzo1, Peter Poole2, Zoe Scantamburlo1, Francesca Tacconi1, Elena Youssef1, Paola Mattarelli3,

Maria Luisa Dindo3, Antonio Martini3, Roberta Spadoni3, Roberta Salmaso4, Marta Tezza5, Katia Dall’Aira5, Sonia Gelmetti2; Fedora Martignago1, Leonardo Latella4

1Liceo Scientifico Messedaglia (Verona, Italy); 2Liceo Scientifico Levi (Verona, Italy); 3Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bologna (Italy); 4Museo Civico di Storia Naturale (Verona,

Italy); 5Natura Viva Garda Zoological Park S.r.l. (Bussolengo, Verona, Italy)

INTRODUCTION The present work is part of the stage (“alternanza scuola-lavoro” following the new Italian

governative regulation named “La Buona Scuola”) of two high schools in Verona (Licei

Scientifici Messedaglia and Levi) conducted in collaboration with Museum of Natural His-

tory of Verona, Bologna University and Parco Natura Viva Garda Zoological (Verona).

The topic of this activity was “Insects as food”. This field of research is absolutely up to

date as the population in the world is continuously growing and there are an increased use

of land resources and demand for nutrients (Fig. 1). Due to the high resource efficiency

and good nutritional value of insects, insect rearing for entomophagy (Fig. 2) seems to fit

well with a modern food production system; insects breeding shows also a high economic

and environmental sustainability and reduced demand for resources, timing and harmful

emissions.

Taking into account that mealworms belonging to Tenebrio molitor have been routinely

utilized as feed for different species of animals in Parco Natura Viva, the stage work was

finalized at investigating the possibility to use these insects also as food for humans. The

stage was thus aimed to gain: (a) a better understanding of the mealworm life cycle; (b)

knowledge on current consumer acceptation about eating insects using consumer percep-

tion survey administered at Parco Natura Viva and at high schools in Verona.

MATERIALS AND METHOD Breeding of Tenebrio molitor: the larvae were raised in plastic boxes with the substrate

consisting of bread crumbles, flour and corn flakes (normal diet), at a temperature ranged

from 20 to 30°C, in laboratory room of the two schools. One group was raised utilizing

slab or chips of polystyrene as the only substrate. The life cycle of the larvae have been ob-

served for one months with the regular check and observations every two-three days.

Questionnarie has been prepared considering the objectives of the study and the presenta-

tion of questions in a good order to generate the statistical information about the accep-

tance of insects as food. The questions were about the age, occupation, familiarity and

knowledge of insects, etc. The questionnaire has been administered to students of Liceo

Scientifico Messedaglia in Verona e Liceo Scientifico Levi in San Floriano (Verona) and to

visitors of Parco Natura Viva (Verona).

RESULTS The experience on life cycle of Tenebrio molitor confirmed the easy way to obtain these

mealworms (Fig. 3 A and B). Larvae developed to pupae and larvae in both substrates;

higher percentage of pupae and adults were observed when normal diet was utilized. Inter-

estingly larvae were able to survive on polystyrene substrate making groove and holes in

the polystyrene substrate (Fig. 3 C and D).

The questionnaire has been revealed a good tool for collection of data. The direct survey

mainly involved people aged 14 to 18. Some examples of questions are described in Fig. 4.

The results suggest that there is a strong cultural resistance to accept insects as food. People

are clearly interested in receiving more information.

CONCLUSION This study provides insights into the acceptance and rejection factors of unfamiliar food

items that are not yet culturally acceptable as food. Moreover the possible application of

larvae of Tenebrio molitor for the polystyrene degradation has been evidenced.

Would you eat insects if you were sure

they are good for my health?

Are you worried about the spreading of insects as food?

Would you attend a conference

about insects and how to cook

them?

Fig. 1. Country groups by stage of industrialization

on the world .

Fig. 2. Recorded edible insect species in the world.

Fig. 3. Tenebrio molitor grown in normal diet (A and B), in polyethylene ©

and in polystyrene (D)

A B

C D

Fig. 3. Examples of questions in the survey “Insects as food”.