Highschool students' perception of entomophagy and the effect of lectures with insect tasting

Abstract

We conducted after-school lectures on entomophagy with insect tasting opportunities for high school students. A short questionnaire survey conducted before and after the lectures suggested that the students had developed a positive, sociocultural view of entomophagy. Therefore, we recommend that introducing entomophagy practices from around the world in geography and biology classes could enable students to reflect on the richness of food diversity as an extension of their own lives. We also suggest that teaching about entomophagy could lead to an essential open-mindedness in the future generations of Japan to tackle food and environmental issues worldwide.