NEWS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE September 2025 99 A peer-reviewed analysis, published in the prestigious Nature journal npj Sustainable Agriculture, has found that efforts to incorporate edible insects into Western diets face a number of consumer acceptance barriers. These barriers, which are psychological, taste-, culture- and price-related in nature, challenge the long-standing assumption that farmed insects have the potential to replace traditionally farmed meat as a source of dietary protein. Authored by an international team of academics from the UK, USA and Europe, "Beyond the Buzz: Insect-based Foods are Unlikely to Significantly Reduce Meat Consumption", evaluates the likelihood of insect-based foods in replacing meat from farmed animals, when compared to alternatives including plantbased proteins and lab-grown meat. The study notes that the successful inclusion of any new food product in Western diets depends on a number of factors, but crucial is the willingness of consumers to try a product. Analysis of earlier research on consumer acceptance rates of alternative proteins indicates the highest acceptance is for plantbased meats, with a reported ‘willingness to try’ reaching as high as 91%. In contrast, farmed insects show the lowest acceptance of any alternative proteins, with reported ‘willingness to try’ routinely scoring in the 20% region. Beyond the Buzz notes that the main barrier to market acceptance of farmed insects is "the psychological rejection experienced by consumers, predominantly feelings of disgust”. Read more>> New Study: Insect-based foods unlikely to replace meat in Western diets VNU Europe, the international division of Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs, and organizer of VIV Worldwide entered into a partnership with the Poultry Federation of India (PFI). Signed by both parties earlier in 2025, the multi-year agreement is a strong testament to sharing the vision and commitment to further invest and enrich India’s thriving animal protein and livestock industry, according to the announcement. India's animal protein and livestock sector stands as one of the world's most dynamic and rapidly expanding markets. With a growing population of over 1.4 billion people and rising disposable incomes, the demand for high-quality animal protein continues to surge. As consumer preferences evolve toward more protein-rich diets and sustainable food production practices, India presents unprecedented opportunities for innovation, technology adoption, and market expansion across the entire feed-to-food value chain. Read more>> Exhibitor sales open for VIV Select India 2026 Photo: Courtesy of VNU Europe Photo: Faizal Afnan | Shutterstock
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