Animal Health: Potential Benefits of Edible Insects: Second Edition
A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Nutrition".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 168
Special Issue Editor
Interests: veterinary entomology; edible insects; veterinary parasitology; companion animals; veterinary prevention; One Health; epidemiology; molecular biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Following the great deal of interest in the first edition of this Special Issue, we are pleased to announce the second edition of "Animal Health: Potential Benefits of Edible Insects." This Special Issue will be published in Animals, an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal. It responds to the continuing trend of integrating insects into the food chain and developing edible insect-based animal products, reflecting the growing momentum of this research and industry.
The aim of this second edition is to continue research on the nutritional and health benefits of edible insects in animal nutrition. Scientific and commercial initiatives in the field of entomophagy are growing worldwide. Due to widespread disinformation, the topic of edible insects should be based on evidence-based practice. Based on current research and analysis, incorporating insect protein into the diet has been assessed as safe and feasible, and new research suggests that insect-derived ingredients may offer functional health benefits beyond basic nutrition. This research presents edible insects as a truly versatile ingredient, not only as a source of high-quality protein and micronutrients but also as a source of health-promoting properties that contribute to digestive health, immunity, and overall animal well-being. In essence, edible insects represent a holistic approach to animal nutrition, potentially improving health while contributing to a sustainable food system.
In light of these considerations, it is essential that research on the use of edible insects in animal diets continues to be grounded in evidence-based science. Rigorous, well-controlled studies are still needed to confirm efficacy, determine optimal inclusion levels, and ensure safety across different species. Only through a solid scientific foundation can we fully validate the health claims and properly integrate insect-based ingredients into animal nutrition, prevention, and veterinary practice. This Special Issue seeks to gather high-quality original scientific articles, short communications, reviews, and case reports that will expand our knowledge and guide the responsible application of edible insects in animal health and nutrition. Topics include the following:
- Edible insects and insect-derived products;
- Animal nutrition and feed formulation;
- Functional ingredients and feed additives;
- Bioactive compounds from insects;
- Animal gut health and microbiota;
- Immunology and immune modulation;
- Neurological system and behavior;
- Physiology and metabolism;
- Pharmacology and toxicology;
- Biochemistry and microbiology;
- Companion animals;
- Livestock and aquaculture species;
- Clinical evaluation and health outcomes.
We invite all interested scientists, veterinarians, nutritionists, and industry researchers to participate in this Special Issue and help shape the future role of edible insects in animal health and sustainable food systems.
Dr. Remigiusz Gałęcki
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- edible insects
- domestic animals
- animal nutrition
- animal health
- bioactive compounds
- clinical evaluation
- in vitro studies
- animal gut health
- functional ingredients
- insect-delivered compounds
- veterinary medicine
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Related Special Issue
- Animal Health: Potential Benefits of Edible Insects in Animals (6 articles)
