Review,
Framework for valorizing waste- and by-products through insects and their microbiomes for food and feed
Affiliations
- [1] Aalborg University [NORA names: AAU Aalborg University; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
- [2] Aarhus University [NORA names: AU Aarhus University; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
- [3] Norwegian University of Science and Technology [NORA names: Norway; Europe, Non-EU; Nordic; OECD];
- [4] University of Copenhagen [NORA names: KU University of Copenhagen; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
- [5] University of Parma [NORA names: Italy; Europe, EU; OECD];
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Abstract
One third of the food produced for human consumption is currently lost or wasted. Insects have a high potential for converting organic waste- and by-products into food and feed for a growing human population due to symbiosis with microorganisms. These symbioses provide an untapped reservoir of functional microbiomes that can be used to improve industrial insect production but are poorly studied in most insect species. Here we review the most current understanding and challenges of valorizing organic waste- and by-products through insects and their microbiomes for food and feed, and emerging novel food technologies that can be used to investigate and manipulate host(insects)-microbiome interactions. We further construct a holistic framework, by integration of novel food technologies including holo-omics, genome editing, breeding, phage therapy, and administration of prebiotics and probiotics to investigate and manipulate host(insects)-microbiome interactions, and solutions for achieving stakeholder acceptance of novel food technologies for a sustainable food production.