Scoping the potential of insect protein in university student diets in the UK

The project will investigate the affordability, sustainability, and nutritional quality of insect protein-based diets compared to alternative protein diets. Main meals and a dessert option will be developed using mealworms and crickets. Students will be invited to a tasting session of the insect recipes against their equivalent dessert or protein alternative and will complete a survey rating the recipes. Students will be aware of the purpose of the study and that at least one of the recipes contains insects but will not be informed which contains insects. The project will highlight the potential of insect proteins as an affordable and sustainable diet for university students.

Project lead: Stephen Axon (Bournemouth University)

Project collaborators: Lousie Neilson (Twisted Orange), Natalie Rouse (Twisted Orange), Bugvita (C.F. Banks Limited), Fern Baker (Bournemouth University), Frank Vriesekoop (Harper Adams University), Jane Eastham (Harper Adams University), James Fair (Bournemouth University), Rounaq Nayak (Bournemouth University)