Cricket farming presents a sustainable, innovative solution for enhancing food security and diversifying local food production in Nigeria. Currently, 100 small holder cricket farmers are present in Nigeria (coordinated by NGN and the Spring Board Foundation) and daily 200 cricket loaves are baked and sold successfully.
Cricket flour, rich in high-quality protein and essential micronutrients, offers a viable alternative to traditional protein sources. However, despite its potential, cricket-based food products are not yet widely available in the market, requiring targeted research and development efforts to enable commercialization. The Flying Food consortium will conduct a feasibility study on technical, economic, and market conditions necessary to scale cricket farming and integrate it into the food sector through the production of protein-enriched bread. This feasibility study is funded by RVO (the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and will deliver
- Evaluate production scalability and optimize farming conditions.
- Refine processing and storage methods to maintain product quality.
- Assess market demand and consumer acceptance of cricket-enriched bread.
- Develop a commercialization strategy that ensures long-term viability.
The study will generate practical insights into processing efficiency, consumer adoption, and business modeling, laying the groundwork for a commercially viable industry in Nigeria.
