20/11/2025
Women dominate the value chain for insects used as food and feed in Africa, but their role varies dramatically by insect and region.
A new review found that women lead most collection and marketing of edible insects, especially in lower-value markets. In some regions, caterpillars represent the most significant income source for rural women. Emerging Black Soldier Fly farms in East Africa employ over 70% women.
However, when harvesting requires cutting host trees, common in parts of DR Congo, men dominate. And while female-headed households are more likely to participate in mopane worm markets, they face barriers: resource constraints and domestic obligations that limit long-distance trade.
As insect farming scales up, ensuring women access opportunities across the entire value chain will be critical.
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