key: cord-0984702-gdrfxytt authors: Doi, Hideyuki; Gałęcki, Remigiusz; Mulia, Randy Nathaniel title: The merits of entomophagy in the post COVID-19 world date: 2021-02-05 journal: Trends Food Sci Technol DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.01.067 sha: c8dc132c3bafb857890dda672818dc1864b9f117 doc_id: 984702 cord_uid: gdrfxytt BACKGROUND: In 2020, human society underwent several drastic changes due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which generated an unprecedented global impact. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, various pressing concerns underlying food security, such as transport, production, and maintenance of the supply chain, have been raised. SCOPE AND APPROACH: The present study aimed to describe and review the merits of entomophagy in the post COVID-19 world, especially with regard to the low risk for zoonotic disease spread, high production rate, and future prospects for inducing entomophagy to enhance the diversity in the food system in comparison to conventional livestock. KEY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: The advantages of entomophagy in the post COVID-19 world have been elucidated herein, with particular emphasis on the minimal risk of zoonotic disease transmission and production efficiency, in addition to the future goal of establishment of entomophagy to expand redundancy and diversity in the food system as against the utility of conventional livestock. In the current scenario, as well as in the post COVID-19 situation, boosting entomophagy may play a pivotal role in global food security, as the aspects already touched upon have amply demonstrated. In 2020, human society was radically altered due to the coronavirus disease Although the role of arthropods in zoonotic transmission is undeniable, it is 79 believed that edible insects pose a low risk of transmitting zoonotic diseases. This is 80 because insects intended for human and animal nutrition are pests that feed on plant 81 material or agricultural by-products. Therefore, these insects do not act directly as 82 vectors of pathogens between humans and animals. Regarding entomophagy, a 83 strong species barrier that prevents insect-specific pathogens from colonizing the 84 human body is also important. In certain cases, even insects infected with various humans. Because insects can act as mechanical vectors, this threat seems to be real. 223 Moreover, due to the lack of biosecurity, insects may be exposed to microorganisms 224 transmitted, for example, by flies or rats. Therefore, in our opinion, in insect The role of insects is now being evaluated for the nutritional value they can 312 provide as a source of food, especially in terms of their protein content (which is of 313 immense biological value) (Fig. 1) . Other nutritional factors include lipids (essential 314 fatty acids comprising an important component) (Fig. 1) , vitamins, minerals, etc.. 315 The rapidly growing edible insect industry produces protein bars, pasta, and chips Insect meal as a 492 renewable source of food for animal feeding: a review Impacts of COVID-19 on agricultural and food systems worldwide and on 496 progress to the sustainable development goals Without food, there can be no exit from the pandemic Italian consumers' attitudes 501 towards entomophagy: Influence of human factors and properties of insects and 502 insect-based food Food safety issues related to uses of insects for feeds and foods