# Entomophagy in Latin America and its potential for sustainability and food security

## TL;DR

This paper explores the role of eating insects in Latin America and how it can help improve food security and sustainability.

## Contribution

The paper highlights the traditional knowledge and biodiversity of edible insects in Latin America for sustainable food solutions.

## Key findings

- Latin America has a rich culture of insect consumption with some species already commercialized.
- Most edible insects are collected from ecosystems, linking biodiversity with food needs.
- Traditional practices offer a foundation for exploring new insect species for food security.

## Abstract

Entomophagy is often considered as an alternative and complementary practice in human food security. Recently, the exploration of edible insects has taken an increased focus on traditional practices, thus highlighting the importance of inherent folklore in the search of protein-rich food alternatives and their biofunctional properties. The present work summarizes edible insect species in Latin America, some of which are well known and commercialized species. However, most of these Latin-American species are directly extracted from the ecosystem, thereby entailing a complex interaction between sociocultural practices, biodiversity, and food requirements. Latin America possesses an extensive culture concerning the use and consumption of insect species. Therefore, previous experience regarding the mass production and commercialization of said species, along with their utilization as sustenance, constitute a sound reference frame in the exploration of wild or less consumed species, thence improving food security resources.