After holding its 65th Webinar Session on Edible Insects, yesterday, on 22nd April 2026, ARSO today, joins the international Community to highlight the beneficial role of insects the universe as we celebrate the 8th Day World Insect Day, celebrated every year on 23rd April, since 2017, but being held internationally, for the first time in Leuven, Belgium! today 23rd April 2026. The Day of the Insects 2026 (https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ9LWosj6X_/) brings science and society together, with a ffocus on the opportunity for fundamental change towards genuine sustainable coexistence between humans and biodiversity while underlining their role in Restoring and protecting biodiversity. The day, also aligned to the Insect Week 2026, scheduled for 22-28 June, is also aligned to the goals of the World Edible Insect Day, celebrated each year on October 23, to promote insects as a sustainable, nutrient-dense food source to address global food security and environmental issues and aligned to the SDG Goal 2, Zero Hunger. Entomophagy (eating of Edible
Insects) has been practiced since early hominids like Paranthropus (or Australopithecus) robustus (Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene), and with currently 2billion people across the world consuming insects as part of their regular diet with
the highest market in Asia and Africa. Entomophagy remains strategic to addressing the Food Security concerns as FAO projects the Global population to reach 9 billion by 2050, 2.4 billion in Africa, and need for increased food production by 70%, against the challenges of normal farming practices on Climate Change mitigation strategies, conflict.
The major challenge, to Entomophagy remains need to bridge the gap between traditional practices and modern food safety regulations, as well as overcoming cultural stigma among some consumer groups. The lack of regulatory framework is a major barrier in the way of establishing markets for insects and insect-based products, as most countries still lack precise and insect-specific legislation, standards, labelling and other regulatory instruments to govern the production and commercialization of insects in both food and feed supply chains. As the global consumption of edible insects continues to rise, the need for regulatory frameworks to ensure consumer safety is becoming increasingly evident, leading several countries to implement specific regulations. For Africa, Edible insect policy is shifting from informal tradition to structured, commercial, and nutritional regulation, focusing on sustainable food security. In the European Union (EU), insects have been classified as “novel foods” since 2015, and their commercialization is regulated under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.
ARSO (Standardisation and conformity Assessment) has established the ARSO/PC 03 on Insects for food, feeds and derived products with a focus to facilitate Standardization in the field of Insects for food, feeds and derived products including methods of production, processing, distribution and marketing of Insects for food, feeds and their products derived. 15 harmonised standards were launched on 23rd September 2025 in Kampala, Uganda.
ARSO Activities in Pictures
