Insects-as-food is an emerging industry in Western countries as a solution to increased animal protein demand.

Environmental sustainability is a key justification for its development; however, a lack of basic research on almost all aspects of production means the future environmental impact of the mass rearing of insects is largely unknown.

Sustainability will be mostly determined by the insect species reared, type of feed used, waste utilisation and management, facility design, and geographic location – as these will heavily influence the amount and quality of protein produced per resource unit input and waste output.

We outline where ecologists and animal scientists need to urgently focus their research efforts related to key criteria of the insects-as-food industry to ensure its development is in line with long-term ecological sustainability.