Multidimensional assessment of the potential of insects for sustainable agri-food systems

This study presents a multidimensional framework to evaluate the socio-ecological roles (SER) of insects in agrifood systems. Insects contribute to all four categories of ecosystem services: provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural, while also posing context-specific challenges. Using a transdisciplinary approach, we assessed 120 insect species across four dimensions: Productive Potential, Ecosystem Potential, Use, and Challenges. Unsupervised machine learning identified species clusters that provide useful insights for context-specific management strategies, including conservation, pest/vector control, wild gathering, and farming. While some species consistently perform well across dimensions, others require more localised or tailored approaches. Rather than offering definitive answers, this framework provides a starting point to support more adaptive and inclusive decision-making for sustainable insect use. It contributes to balancing productivity, biodiversity, and cultural relevance, while guiding future research and policy efforts aligned with agri-food system transformation and biodiversity goals.