from traditional to modern intensive systems. In-
creased globalization and urbanization has led to
more arable land being lost for food production (Yen,
2009). As the human population grows and environ-
mental degradation continues, the world faces a
major problem in providing adequate animal-based
protein. Consequently forests are cleared to create
land for agriculture and infrastructural development.
Such systems have a big bearing on biodiversity loss.
Many edible insects are becoming scarce, for exam-
ple, in Uganda termites are not common in urban
areas. The reason behind the low occurrences is the
perception about termites, the worker termite is
known to destroy furniture and crops, and hence is a
pest. It is therefore regarded as a menace and ter-
mataria are destroyed as soon as they show up. In
large-scale agriculture they are destroyed as the land
is prepared for cultivation. This compromises the
quantities produced and sustainable harvest of the in-
sects. Grasshoppers and palm weevil breed in forests
and thick vegetation like forests whereas termites will
breed in both dense and sparse vegetation areas. Con-
sequently, these insects are lost and biodiversity dam-
aged.2.4 Pollution and use of insecticides
Populations continue to soar and industrialization
becomes a viable option. As a result more green-
house gases are produced. There is more carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere and consequently in the
water bodies. This means that the waters are more
acid than ever before, consequently affecting the
flora and fauna in water bodies. Ayeikoet al.( 2010 )
also noted that the harvests of lake flies in western
Kenya was lower than in the previous years. This
was as a result of increased acidity of the water.
Lake flies breed at the bottom of the lake, and there-
fore the change in PH of the water grossly affects
the breeding cycle. Coupled with increased temper-
ature, oxygen availability is compromised leading to
death of the larvae. In the quest to control diseases
and increase yields insecticides, pesticides andherbicides are used extensively in cities and farms.
Pesticide, herbicide and fungicide use can make
insects unsuitable for human consumption as
pesticides accumulate in insect bodies.3. Opportunities
Faced with several challenges, Africa can convert
these challenges to opportunities. Insects in the diet
clearly show the meeting point of nutrition and bio-
diversity in food security and sustainable development.
For Africa to meet her food security and environment
protection targets of the MDGs, then it is important
to look at opportunities that entomophagy avails us
with; however, the achievement of food security
should not be at the expense of the environment.
Insects present a link; they are eco- friendly as food.
They consume relatively little and do not require
grazing land and antibiotics like our conventional
livestock (Yenet al., 2008). Today livestock is one of
the major contributors to greenhouse gases. As de-
mand for animal protein increases the world over, it
is probable that levels of pollution will reach their
highest limits.3.1 Cultivation of insects
The mass production of insects has great potential
to provide animal proteins for human consumption,
either directly, or indirectly as livestock feed. The
latter could reduce energy requirements in livestock
production. The use of insects as an additional
source of protein could result in increased conversion
efficiencies and a smaller environmental footprint
in our livestock production, especially if closed
systems can be developed at the village or farm
level (Steinfeld et al., 2006 ).Insects are easy to raise and to harvest, and they
are highly nutritious to eat. They have higher food
conversion efficiency than more traditional meats.
When reared at 30°C or more, and fed a diet of equal
quality to the diet used to rear conventional livestock,
house crickets show a food conversion twice as202