Prospects and Consumer Perception of Sustainable Protein Innovations for Food Security in Sierra Leone

Abstract

Introduction: Sierra Leone experiences major food security problems that repeatedly occur, and malnutrition is one of the biggest problems for children, women, and rural poor groups. The country, which has been dependent on traditional animal proteins for a long time, is finding this source less and less feasible due to economic difficulties, unstable supply chains, and has been affected by climate change, due to reduced productivity. At the same time, as the need for environmentally friendly protein sources becomes high (to reduce environmental damage and solve the problem of hunger), plant-based foods, edible insects, and aquaculture-sustainable protein innovations (SPIs) are the ‍​‌‍​‍‌solutions. Aims: The study aims to assess Sierra Leonean consumers’ readiness to accept SPIs (via urban-rural awareness, perceptions, and adoption drivers) and identify political-economic leverage points for integrating SPIs into local and national food security strategies. Study Design: This study was based on mixed methods, involving household surveys for the quantitative aspect and interviews with stakeholders for the qualitative aspect. Place and Duration of Study: The data collection period was from January to May 2025, and it covered five agro-ecological zones in Sierra Leone, i.e., Freetown (urban), Bo, Kenema, Makeni (semi-urban), and Moyamba (rural), which combined represent 46% of the total population. Methodology: Through stratified random sampling, 500 household heads (≥18 years old) were surveyed, and 40 key informants (nutritionists, policymakers, and food industry actors) were selected for interviews. Quantitative data were handled using SPSS (descriptive statistics, logistic regression), and qualitative data were analyzed through thematic analysis. Results: Out of the total respondents, only 28.6% had heard of SPIs, where the urban Freetown had the highest rate of awareness (41%), and the rural Moyamba had the lowest (16%). Besides that, nutrition (M = 3.9/5) and environmental benefits (M = 3.7/5) were the most influential factors that shaped people's attitudes, whereas taste aversion was the biggest barrier to turn that point of view into action by increasing from 37% in Freetown to 63% in Moyamba. As education (OR = 1.57, p < 0.001) and prior knowledge (OR = 1.63, p < 0.001) were indicated by logistic regression most significant adoption factors. In addition, the drop to under 30% of the willingness to adopt when the SPI's price was more than 1.2 times that of animal-source substitutes indicates that they were price-sensitive. Conclusion: The main reasons for people in Sierra Leone to choose healthy and environmentally friendly products are health and sustainability; however, due to the low level of awareness, sensory skepticism, and price sensitivity, the uptake of SPIs is limited. Firstly, the policy should focus on sensory urban-first demonstrations to attract the target consumers for awareness; secondly, culturally-tailored product development, and thirdly, targeted subsidies to reduce price barriers. In addition, facilitating SPI learning through the education system and cooking extension programs for women are not only effective in speeding up the adoption process but also in building climate-resilient food systems.