The growing world population is leading to an increasing demand for meat and meat products, posing a major challenge for modern agricultural and food systems. This increases the demand for feed ingredients such as soybean meal and fishmeal, the production of which has a negative impact on the environment. Insects such as the black soldier fly (BSF) offer a potentially sustainable alternative to these protein sources. The use of insects in animal feed can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of livestock farming and improve self-sufficiency in Europe. However, consumer acceptance of insect-fed chicken meat is crucial for the successful implementation of such solutions. In a survey of 773 Slovenian consumers, we investigated the factors that influence the acceptance of insects in animal feed. The results show that the use of insects in chicken feed has the highest acceptance among consumers (74%), with the safety of the chicken meat being of key importance. In addition to safety, knowledge about insects as a food source and previous experience of eating insects are also important factors for acceptance. More than 90% of respondents are familiar with eating insects and 24% have tried them before. Younger participants with higher levels of education were more likely to accept chicken meat from insect-fed chickens. The survey shows that in order to overcome food neophobia and improve the acceptance of insects, it is necessary to educate Slovenian consumers about the benefits of insects as a sustainable source of protein. This will help to reduce safety concerns and encourage the adoption of such innovative solutions in agriculture.
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