Italian consumers perspectives on insect-based feeds for ruminants and derived foods products

A survey of 1,040 Italian consumers was conducted to investigate their knowledge, acceptance, and willingness to consume food products obtained from ruminants fed diets containing insect-derived products. The questionnaire covered the following sections: 1) consumption of ruminant-derived foods; 2-3) opinion on using insect-based feed for farm animals in general and specifically for ruminants; 4) the sustainability of insect-based feed for ruminants; 5) related benefits and risks; 6) perceived positive externalities from insect meals and oils for ruminant feeding; 7) knowledge of legislation on the use of insects as feed; and 8) concerns about insect-based feed for ruminants. Socio-demographic (SD) data was also collected. Sections 2, 3 and 4 were used in a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to obtain perception and attitudinal patterns towards insect-based feed use in farm animal nutrition. The PCA defined three main components which were subsequently used as input for a Cluster Analysis, which categorized consumers into four groups. "Moderate rejectors" viewed insects as animal feed with some reservations. "Sustainability-driven" consumers supported insect-based feed for farm animals. "Insect-based feed supporters" were in favour but raised sustainability concerns. "Purpose-driven" consumers accepted insect-based feed, but not as a long-term solution. Clusters were characterised in terms of SD characteristics, knowledge of legislation, benefits, risks, externalities, and concerns related to insect-based feed for ruminants, also comparing different ruminant-derived food products. This study identifies specific consumer groups and provides insights into communication, policy and decision-making strategies for a sustainable livestock sector.