From the nutritional point of view, edible insects have become an increasingly discussed topic in both the professional and laic public, even in countries where their consumption is not common… Click to show full abstract
From the nutritional point of view, edible insects have become an increasingly discussed topic in both the professional and laic public, even in countries where their consumption is not common [Mlček et al., 2014; Ramos-Elorduy et al., 2011; van Huis, 2016]. In particular, it is possible to use edible insects as a valuable alternative source of proteins, especially in regions with a lack of conventional animal proteins [Mlček et al., 2014; Ramos-Elorduy et al., 2011; van Broekhoven et al., 2015]. Other benefi ts include higher feed conversions, low greenhouse gas emissions, better soil utilization, and the conversion of organic materials to valuable products. This strategy can lead to fi nancial savings and environmental benefi ts [Cerritos, 2009, 2011; Fontaneto et al., 2011; Mariod et al., 2011; Premalatha et al., 2011]. Insects have also a great potential as feed, for example, in aquaculture [van Huis, 2016]. This is due to the high content of proteins and sulphur amino acids that can be successfully used as feed for poultry [Józefi ak et al., 2016]. One of the most studied species of insects is the mealworm [Finke, 2002, 2004; Barroso et al., 2014; Ravzanaadii et al.,
               
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