Sustainable integration of insects into European food chains

Abstract The European Commission’s Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) is a cornerstone of the European Green Deal, aiming for transition towards a more sustainable and circular economy by addressing waste reduction and promoting recycling of low-opportunity cost biomass. The EU Horizon 2020 project SUStainable INsect CHAIN (SUSINCHAIN) aligns with these goals, focusing on the efficient utilisation of insects in the food chain to strengthen sustainable supply chains, enhance consumer acceptance, and create market opportunities. The project, targeted at Technology Readiness Level 6, addresses barriers through comprehensive research, technology demonstrations, and stakeholder collaboration. Results contribute to scaling up the insect sector by overcoming supply and demand challenges, fostering trust, and developing best practices. The opinions generated encompass market opportunities, insect rearing, processing, safety, and sustainability, providing guidelines for stakeholders, public authorities, policymakers, and academia to collectively drive the growth and acceptance of the European insect sector.