Justin B. Ombeni

• PhD. Food Science and Nutrition
• Deputy chairman and Researcher, Department of Food science, Nutrition and Dietetics at Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Bukavu, ISTM Bukavu

La composition nutritionnelle des substrats d’élevage peut affecter considérablement la composition nutritionnelle des larves. Cette étude a été menée pour comparer la valeur nutritionnelle des larves de R. phoenicis élevées sur six substrats artificiels (banane plantain mûre et le tourteau palmiste (T1A), banane plantain mûre, tourteau palmiste et...

Insects, a traditional food in many parts of the world, are highly nutritious and especially rich in proteins and thus represent a potential food and protein source. They are rich in essential amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids and provide ample quantities of minerals such as Fe, Zn, Mn, Ca, and P essential for human health. The objective of t...

Insects, a traditional food in many parts of the world, are highly nutritious and especially rich in proteins and thus represent a potential food and protein source. They are rich in essential amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids and provide ample quantities of minerals such as Fe, Zn, Mn, Ca, and P essential for human health. The objective of t...

The present article addresses an aspect of entomophagy for the current urban population of Brazzaville city, capital of the Republic of the Congo. It recalls, firstly, the interest in entomophagy, which was emphasised by the FAO in 2013. Concerning the Brazzaville city, cultural and religious practices of the current inhabitants attract attention a...

Insects have been a particularly popular resource for human and animal nutrition since the turn of the century, owing mostly to population increase and the ever-increasing need for animal protein. A five (5) months experimental study was carried out at the Yangambi Laboratory of Applied and Functional Entomology in Kisangani to explore a variety of...

Bean production is constrained by the infestation of arthropod pests, among which aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch, Homoptera: Aphididae).Also, bean is also face various threats from diseases such as the common bacterial blight (CBB), caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli Smith (Xap) and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli var. fuscan Burkholde...

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important cash and food security crop in the eastern highlands of eastern DRCongo. However, climate change and variability poses a serious risk to sustainable production of the crop. Potato production and productivity are seriously affected by temperature and rainfall variability. Hence, it is important to identi...

L'intérêt alimentaire des insectes dont les chenilles comestibles occupent aujourd'hui une place stratégique dans la lutte contre la faim et la malnutrition à l'échelle mondiale. Ainsi, il est indispensable de bien maitriser les différentes espèces à valoriser afin d'en assurer une exploitation et une conservation durable. Le présent article soulèv...

Although in many countries of Sub-Sahara Africa, sweet potato has been found to be very important for food security for farmers who depended on it for their livelihood, little documentation on the production constraints, preferences for sweetpotato genotypes by farmers, pre-and post-harvest handling and value chain issues were available for North-K...

A study on the quality of the water consumed and on the determinants of the prevalence of typhoid fever was carried out in two health zones (Kadutu and Miti-Murhesa) of the province of south Kivu from June to September 2021.The study aimed at contributing to the advancement of scientific knowledge that can be used in the control of water-borne d...

Understanding farmers' needs and local genetic resources are crucial steps to improve and conserve potato. Based on current farmers' interests and demands, a study was conducted to screen and select potato genotypes that are suitable to local environment in eastern DRCongo from some clones that were sent from CIP-Nairobi in June 2016. The investiga...

A study of the physical activities, food profile and nutritional status of the students was carried out at the Higher Institute of Physical and Sports Education (ISEPS) of Marien Ngouabi University in Congo-Brazzaville. Its objective was to assess the physical activity level, food profile and nutritional status of these students in order to compare...

An overview is given on recent developments in insects as food by reviewing the literature which has appeared during the last few years on edible insects in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). An outlook to the future is provided. Insects were among the foods consumed by early man and they are still vital components in the diets of DRC's popula...

The world's population is rapidly increasing and could reach 10 billion by 2050. This situation is expected to increase global food demand by up to 70% over current levels. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the potential of Imbrasia truncata caterpillars harvested in the equatorial forest as an alternative food resource that could fill the...

Edible insects, and in particular edible caterpillars, occupy a strategic place in the fight against hunger and malnutrition on a global scale. It is essential that the different species are correctly identified to ensure their exploitation and sustainable conservation. This article raises examples of the taxonomic confusions found in the scientifi...

This study is part of the development of local products in order to fight against food insecurity. Its objective is to inventory the different techniques for harvesting edible caterpillars in Congo, to determine the different harvesting periods and the types of people involved in this harvest. Field missions taking into account the calendar of prob...

A systematic study of edible caterpillars and their host plants was carried out in different departments and localities of the Republic of the Congo. Twenty-nine (29) species of edible caterpillars were identified, of which 22 were determined to species level, i.e., namely 75.9 % of the species collected. The dominance of the Saturniidae and Notodo...

After highlighting the importance of marketing Imbrasia caterpillars in Africa and even in Europe (Paris and Brussels) and Asia (Bangkok), various aspects of their marketing in the Republic of the Congo are developed. The objective of this study was to assess the value chain of caterpillars in the Republic of the Congo. To achieve this, three cross...

The purpose of the present paper is to assess the consumption of caterpillars in the Republic of the Congo in order to develop strategies to address the problem of food insecurity in households. To achieve this, three cross-sectional food consumption surveys were carried out in three departments of the Republic of the Congo, namely the Brazzaville...

Imbrasia epimethea caterpillars represent a delicacy appreciated by many populations in the northern part of the Republic of the Congo. The present study aimed to evaluate the amino acid (AA) and fatty acid (FA) profile of Imbrasia epimethea caterpillar. This caterpillar is univoltine and polyphagous. Its host plants most well-known are Ricinodendr...

Optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices are crucial to improving the health and nutritional status of children: a public health intervention to prevent child morbidity, mortality and malnutrition. The main purpose of this study was to assess the feeding practices and nutritional status of infant and young child (IYC) from 0 to 36 mo...

A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 300 people, data collected through a semi-structured questionnaire composed of binary, open-ended, semi-open-ended questions. The respondents were producers and consumers of food crops, market gardening, rural food encountered at the places (at home, in the field, and at the market). Descriptive...

Meat is an important source of animal protein in the daily diet of people, after fish. Meat is considered as a luxury food during festive events in eastern D.R. Congo. Meat grilling and roasting are common urban practices because of condiments required during the roasting process to make it tastier. The present study was initiated with an idea to i...

Today, attention and resources are concentrated on a limited number of interest commercial food products, among which are the most "sophisticated" white western vegetables (selected varieties), yet leafy vegetables, wild mushrooms, insects, game, wild plants, ... traditional remain highly consumed in some local recipes with the national specialty v...

We assessed the nutritional quality of porridge flours based on local edible caterpillars and cereals to make receipts porridge for young children, compared to that of food product aid for the treatment of acute malnutrition of riparian population of the Congo Basin in general and South Kivu province in particular. The nutritional quality of select...

A survey on the particular importance of aminoacids and fatty acids component caterpillars' Bunaeopsis aurantiaca, nowadays much more eaten by the South Kivu province people was assessed during the investigation. Samples of caterpillars formed by 150 specimens last stage were harvested in their ecological environment, brought to the laboratory and...

Foods vended in roadsides of our African cities is a reality and constitute a major problem of public health starting the multiplicity and diversity of microbial flora that they carry. To address these challenges, this study was performed to control the hygienic quality of street foods vended in urban zones of Bukavu city in South Kivu province, DR...

Meat is generally subject to multiple sources of microbial contamination related to the length and complexity of their journey from farm to consumer's table. The purpose of this study is to assess the current hygienic quality level of fresh beef slaughtered in Bukavu urban slaughterhouses, South Kivu to identify the health dangers to consumers. The...

Meat is generally subject to multiple sources of microbial contamination related to the length and complexity of their journey from farm to consumer's table. The purpose of this study is to assess the current hygienic quality level of fresh beef slaughtered in Bukavu urban slaughterhouses, South Kivu to identify the health dangers to consumers. The...

Based on previous complaints and reports from farmers to researchers about potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) problems in South-Kivu Province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (RDCongo), there was a need to understand farmers’ knowledge of existing insect pest problems and current management practice challenges. Such information is important for des...

Our research considers the nutritional value of traditional wild foods consumed by rural communities in the South Kivu province, D.R. Congo. The study was conducted in five South Kivu territories in which three ethnic groups, Bashi, Barega and Bafuliro, dominate the province. Plants and wild mushrooms are eaten but will be later considered. This pa...

Our research considers the nutritional value of traditional wild foods consumed by rural communities in the South Kivu province, D.R. Congo. The study was conducted in five South Kivu territories in which three ethnic groups, Bashi, Barega and Bafuliro, dominate the province. Plants and wild mushrooms are eaten but will be later considered. This pa...

To improve household food security and fight against poverty of the rural population, special attention is fixed on consumption and marketing valuation OF local traditional wild foods (FAO / WHO 2010). Indeed, in order to contribute to the development of food resources that constitute the traditional wild foods (TWF) consumed by the various rural...