The Influence of Cultural and Socio-Economic Factors on The Acceptability of Grasshoppers, Ruspolia differens (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) by Western Ugandan Consumers

Grasshoppers are increasingly regarded as a sustainable and healthier protein source, but their value addition and consumption for food security remain underexplored. This research examined cultural and socio-economic factors influencing grasshopper consumption in Western Uganda. A cross-sectional design sampled 384 participants, including community members, agricultural officers, and nutritionists, using closed-ended questionnaires. Data were analyzed quantitatively, employing Principal Factor Analysis and Regression.Findings revealed that income, education, household size, and grasshopper availability significantly influence consumer acceptance. Consumers perceiving grasshoppers as disease carriers had a 4.5% probability of acceptance, while health biases led to a 59.4% likelihood of rejection. Conversely, cultural and traditional perceptions increased the probability of acceptance to 84.3%. Overall, consumer behavior emerged as the strongest determinant of grasshopper acceptance, with a perfect probability of 1. Socio-cultural perceptions ranked second at 0.843, while health-related biases negatively impacted acceptance at -0.594. The study recommends commercializing the grasshopper value chain and educating consumers on its nutritional and environmental benefits. Further research should explore alternative methodologies to Principal Factor Analysis and Regression, as well as longitudinal correlations between study variables.