A bibliographic account on entomophagy in India: past records, recent trends and future prospects (1945-2023)

The use of insects as' food and feed' is rapidly increasing due to global population growth and rising food demands. Over the past few decades, this immediate popularity of edible insects has led to a substantial upsurge in research publications on edible insects. The present study aimed to bibliographically analyse the status of work done on edible insects throughout India and provide its comprehensive review. Articles published from 1945 to December 2023 were retrieved from Scopus and Non-Scopus databases using web search engines like Google Scholar and PubMed using keywords such as 'entomophagy,' ‘food insects,' and 'edible insects.' These were then analyzed based on publication category, leading authors and publishers, active states, and journals. Between 1945 and 2023, 219 articles on entomophagy in India were published by Indian authors. This analysis highlights the historical inclusion of insects in Indian diets, particularly among ethnic communities in the North-East Region (NER), and identifies key researchers advancing this field. The findings indicate that India has the potential to become a hub for insect supplement manufacturing. Current research shows a unidirectional focus, emphasizing the need for greater collaboration among Indian researchers to drive further progress. This study serves as a pioneering effort in bibliographically analyzing publications on edible insects in India and assessing the progress this practice has made in terms of consumer acceptance and its future development as a promising food resource.