Education: an efficient tool to increase the willingness of children to consume farmed crickets in Madagascar

Insects are increasingly promoted as a sustainable protein alternative for human consumption. Yet consumers have shown varied levels of acceptance, especially in countries without a tradition of eating insects. Even in countries where people traditionally eat insects, farmed insects might be considered novel foods if they are not the same species locals traditionally consume. In this work, we measured acceptance of a farmed cricket (Gryllus madagascariensis) as food at eight primary schools in the central highlands of Madagascar, a country with a long tradition of eating insects but not this species. We evaluated the role of education as a strategy to increase acceptance of insects as food. We also assessed whether education interventions affect children willingness to try cricket-based products, comparing three five-minute education interventions: historical overview of entomophagy in Madagascar, nutritional benefits of consuming insects, and preparation of cricket-based meals. Out of the 483 children, 73% had consumed insects in the past. The percentage of children willing to eat novel farmed crickets in school meals jumped from 16% before the education session to 87% after the education session. Education based on preparation of cricket-based meals was the most effective, as 86% of the reluctant children changed their mind. Finally, we found strong evidence that males were more willing to try insects than females before and after education. Our results are in line with past studies, and underscore the importance of education in promoting insect consumption. The drastic increase in the proportion of children willing to try insects suggests that barriers to consuming farmed insects are low in countries with a tradition of insect consumption and can be overcome through education. Our study supports the acceptability of novel farmed insects as an alternative protein solution to combat malnutrition in children in developing countries like Madagascar.