The hydrosystem composed of Lake Togo, Lagoon of Togoville, and Lagoon of Aného is located in the coastal zone of Togo and receives important and different kinds of mining waste that cause its degradation. This study aims to evaluate the physicochemical and metallic quality of these waters and determine the possible sources of these contaminants using geostatistical, multivariate, and special analysis methods. These waters were very mineralized according to the average conductivity (15.51 mS/cm). Average contents (μg/L) in trace elements varied from 2.46 μg/L for As to 141.63 μg/L for Pb. Average levels of Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni were significantly higher than the WHO standards. Trace elements and physicochemical parameters showed strong spatial variations with the highest values recorded downstream of the hydrosystem. The main possible source of trace element pollution was the intrusion of seawater loaded with phosphate effluent, followed by atmospheric deposition and soil leaching. This hydrosystem, therefore, deserves special attention for better planning its management.

Aims: The objective of this study is to determine the nutritional values of Gnathocera trivittata and Gnathocera impressa in order to promote their consumption for food security. Place and Duration of Study: Samples of G. trivittata and G. impressa were caught in Togo in the three following localities: Kparatao (8°57'151"N; 1°11'838"E), Kpéwa (9°16'978"N; 1°14'149"E) and Soudou (9°21'604"N; 1°21'348"E), between September and December 2013. Methodology: The contents of ash, protein, vitamins as well as lipids were determined. Fiber content was obtained. Minerals were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and colorimetry. Fatty acid composition of the lipids was determined by gas chromatography and the amino acid composition was obtained by separation of the individual amino acids using the Biochrom 30+ amino acid analyzer. Results: The results reveal that the average protein content of the insects studied ranged from 59.36 to 61.63%. Average lipid levels ranged from 9.09 to 9.86%. They contain all the essential fatty and amino acids. Their average fiber content fluctuates between 8.35 and 10.05%. Regarding the composition of micronutrients, the species studied are very rich in minerals and vitamins. The ratios of minerals, fatty acids and essential amino acids are balanced. Conclusion: Given the nutritional potentials of the insects studied, they can contribute significantly to the fight against protein-energy and micronutrient malnutrition in Togo.

In tropical countries, where human consumption of insects is a traditional practice, insects are mainly harvested in the natural environment. These insects are thus exposed to all forms of pollution, particularly metallic pollutants. However, an inventory of scientific knowledge on the risks related to the consumption of insects is missing in the international scientific literature. It is therefore essential to conduct research on the trace metals (TMEs) contained in insects caught in the wild. The objective of this work is to evaluate the level of accumulation of TMEs by insect species commonly consumed in Togo to estimate the health risk related to insect consumption. To do this, 12 species of insects consumed in their adult stage were collected across the whole territory of Togo. These samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry to determine TMEs. It appears that traces of different metallic elements exist in the samples at variable rates. The aquatic species Cybister tripunctatus is the most contaminated, with levels of cadmium (0.504 mg/kg) and lead (0.501 mg/kg) at the limit of edibility threshold. The concentrations of all TMEs in insects during this study are within acceptable limits for human consumption. The risk of human contamination with TMEs through insect consumption is therefore low.

Insect farming is gaining momentum for its potential to strengthen food security and the sustainability of food systems. However, how rearing conditions shape the overall quality of edible insects remains poorly understood. Optimization strategies are suggested on the basis of this critical review, which synthesizes 96 studies, selected from 866 database records and supplemented by citation searching, on the effects of rearing systems and genetic, nutritional, and medicinal properties of edible insects. At least 41 species are farmed under conventional, semi-intensive, or intensive systems, and their quality behaves as a plastic rather than intrinsic trait, modulated by nutritional, environmental, husbandry-related, and biological factors acting on both phenotype (plasticity, epigenetic regulation) and genotype (drift, inbreeding, selection). Reported effects are substantial. For instance, in Tenebrio molitor, crude protein falls from 64.3 to 54.4 g/100 g dry matter as temperature rises from 22 to 28 °C, lipid content peaks at 47.4% at 31 °C, and artificial selection has raised larval weight by up to 39% within 16 generations. Conventional and semi-intensive systems show high batch-to-batch and seasonal variability, whereas intensive systems deliver more stable, standardized production at higher cost and lower consumer acceptability. Genetic selection emerges as a promising but underexploited lever, although conclusions remain qualified by study heterogeneity.

In the face of increasing pressure on agriculture and the effects of climate change, as well as the increasing popularity of Western foods, the enhancement of local food resources stands out as an essential strategy to strengthen food security and to slow down the erosion of traditions. Buprestid beetles are customarily consumed by some people in Togo, but these beetles remain poorly documented. This study explores the nutritional value of Buprestids consumed in Ecological Zone I of Togo. In total 630 individuals representing 7 ethnic groups from 14 localities, with 45 respondents in each, were interviewed. Buprestids were collected in the surveyed areas for identification, and specimens of Sternocera interrupta (Olivier, 1790) were specifically selected for biochemical analyses. Ash, amino and fatty acids, vitamins and fibre contents were determined using AOAC and AFNOR methods. Mineral content was determined by spectrophotometry; fatty acid composition by gas chromatography and amino acid composition by Biochrom 30+ analyzer. The results show that three species of Buprestids are still consumed in Togo, but that this practice is becoming increasingly rare among younger people. The decline can be attributed to a combination of ecological, sociocultural, and economic factors. The analysis of S. interrupta revealed the following composition (dry weight): 58.02 ± 0.18% protein, 6.63 ± 0.28% lipid, and 12.81 ± 0.49% fibre. From a micronutritional standpoint, the species is rich in vitamins and minerals, highlighting the need to conserve Buprestids for their nutritional value and role in food security amidst ecological transition, as well as their contribution to biodiversity.