BugBook: Determining multiple stressor interactions in mass-reared insects based on principles of ecotoxicology
Abstract Insect mass-rearing is a rapidly expanding industry for the production of protein for food and feed. These highly productive artificial rearing environments can expose insects to a range of biotic and abiotic stressors, including insect pathogens, which may result in population crashes. Interactions between insect pathogens with multiple stressors can exacerbate the effects of individual pathogens on host insects. However, reliable predictions on the combined effects of individual stressors based on mechanisms of action are lacking within the field of insect pathology. We review how ecotoxicological modelling of multiple stressors can be applied to mass-reared insect systems and discuss the importance of standardization across research fields investigating multiple stressors. Important considerations in multiple stressor terminology, experimental design, endpoints and analysis of results are discussed to improve understanding of multiple stressors and their impact on insects for food and feed. This is essential for ensuring optimal rearing conditions for mass-reared insect populations.
Authors
- Pascal Herren (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8358-9636)
- Helen Hesketh
- Jennifer Upfold (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8325-4262)
- Fang Shiang Lim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2650-7518)
- Edouard Bessette (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7005-7182)
- Susana Loureiro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5393-9623)
- Anna R. Slowik (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3079-3868)
- Alessandro Roman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8581-4737)
- Sam Edwards (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2796-8527)
- Judit Módné Takács (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8463-4032)
- Loretta Mugo-Kamiri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6553-8457)
- Claus Svendsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7281-647X)
- Cornelis A.M. van Gestel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5651-0208)
- Carlotta Savio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6600-8126)
- Jirka Manuel Petersen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2190-1401)
- Robert D. Pienaar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8797-9420)
- Hannah‐Isadora Huditz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4278-1197)
- Eleanor L. Dearlove (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5268-9554)
- Joana Pinto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9719-8364)
- Melissa Lloyd (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8153-8029)
- Luis Hernández‐Pelegrín (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4910-4583)
- Ali Mostafaie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5379-4663)
Institutions
- Université de Tours (FR)
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
- International Atomic Energy Agency (AT)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- University of Leeds (GB)
- Julius Kühn-Institut (DE)
- Universitat de València (ES)
- AgroParisTech (FR)
- University of Exeter (GB)
- Université Paris-Saclay (FR)
- Microbiologie de l’alimentation au service de la santé (FR)
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR)
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (GB)
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (ES)
- Centro de Estudos Ambientais e Marinhos (PT)
- University of Aveiro (PT)
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
- Wageningen University & Research (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Insects as Food and Feed
- Published
- 2025-05-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1163/23524588-bja10203
- Primary Topic
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Universidade de Aveiro
- European Commission