Beyond the buzz: insect-based foods are unlikely to significantly reduce meat consumption
Abstract The substantial environmental footprint of meat production means that dietary shifts are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Insects may offer one alternative, but must first be widely accepted and consumed by the general public. This review evaluates the prospects of insect-based fo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Series: | npj Sustainable Agriculture |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-025-00075-z |
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| _version_ | 1849471338111041536 |
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| author | Corentin Biteau Tom Bry-Chevalier Dustin Crummett Ren Ryba Michael St. Jules |
| author_facet | Corentin Biteau Tom Bry-Chevalier Dustin Crummett Ren Ryba Michael St. Jules |
| author_sort | Corentin Biteau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The substantial environmental footprint of meat production means that dietary shifts are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Insects may offer one alternative, but must first be widely accepted and consumed by the general public. This review evaluates the prospects of insect-based foods to compete with meat. We find that insect-based foods face major challenges, including low consumer acceptance and limited investment. They have a low likelihood of significantly reducing meat consumption, particularly when compared to more accepted plant-based alternatives. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-09faa5a9975b45dcafa3d21d08e89fab |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2731-9202 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Sustainable Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-09faa5a9975b45dcafa3d21d08e89fab2025-08-20T03:24:52ZengNature Portfolionpj Sustainable Agriculture2731-92022025-06-01311810.1038/s44264-025-00075-zBeyond the buzz: insect-based foods are unlikely to significantly reduce meat consumptionCorentin Biteau0Tom Bry-Chevalier1Dustin Crummett2Ren Ryba3Michael St. Jules4The Insect InstituteAgroParisTech-INRAE, BETA, Université de LorraineThe Insect InstituteAnimal Ask, Unit 10, The Linen HouseThe Insect InstituteAbstract The substantial environmental footprint of meat production means that dietary shifts are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Insects may offer one alternative, but must first be widely accepted and consumed by the general public. This review evaluates the prospects of insect-based foods to compete with meat. We find that insect-based foods face major challenges, including low consumer acceptance and limited investment. They have a low likelihood of significantly reducing meat consumption, particularly when compared to more accepted plant-based alternatives.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-025-00075-z |
| spellingShingle | Corentin Biteau Tom Bry-Chevalier Dustin Crummett Ren Ryba Michael St. Jules Beyond the buzz: insect-based foods are unlikely to significantly reduce meat consumption npj Sustainable Agriculture |
| title | Beyond the buzz: insect-based foods are unlikely to significantly reduce meat consumption |
| title_full | Beyond the buzz: insect-based foods are unlikely to significantly reduce meat consumption |
| title_fullStr | Beyond the buzz: insect-based foods are unlikely to significantly reduce meat consumption |
| title_full_unstemmed | Beyond the buzz: insect-based foods are unlikely to significantly reduce meat consumption |
| title_short | Beyond the buzz: insect-based foods are unlikely to significantly reduce meat consumption |
| title_sort | beyond the buzz insect based foods are unlikely to significantly reduce meat consumption |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-025-00075-z |
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