Sujaya Rao, Ph.D., professor in the entomology department at College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, is a passionate advocate for entomophagy, the practice of eating insects as food by humans. In August 2024, she attended the XXVII International Congress of Entomology in Japan, where her poster on entomophagy was selected as one of only seven, and the sole entry from the United States, for a special session for the Imperial family of Japan.
During the congress, Rao had the honor of presenting her research on changing social perceptions about entomophagy to Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino and their son.
Rao’s selection for the special poster session with the Imperial family at the congress highlights the growing global interest in entomophagy. Despite the practice being widely accepted in many countries, including Japan, Western cultures like the U.S. and Europe are hesitant to adopt it.
