Future Proteins: Sustainable Diets for <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Rearing Composed of Food By-Products
Since the human population is continuously growing, sufficient food with low environmental impact is required. Especially, the challenge of providing proteins will deepen and insects can contribute to a more sustainable and efficient source of protein for human consumption. <i>Tenebrio molitor...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/22/4092 |
| _version_ | 1797459362438971392 |
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| author | Andrea Lienhard René Rehorska Barbara Pöllinger-Zierler Chiara Mayer Monika Grasser Simon Berner |
| author_facet | Andrea Lienhard René Rehorska Barbara Pöllinger-Zierler Chiara Mayer Monika Grasser Simon Berner |
| author_sort | Andrea Lienhard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Since the human population is continuously growing, sufficient food with low environmental impact is required. Especially, the challenge of providing proteins will deepen and insects can contribute to a more sustainable and efficient source of protein for human consumption. <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> larvae are highly nutritious and rearing mealworms is more environmentally friendly compared to the production of traditional livestock meat. To use <i>T. molitor</i> as a more sustainable alternative to conventional proteins, it is essential to apply diets from a local and sustainable source. Therefore, the objective of this study was to find local by-products or leftovers which can be used in mass production of larvae as a main substrate. Feeding trials investigating twenty-nine different substrates were conducted to evaluate larval growth performance and adult reproduction by determining development times, survival rates, biomass, and fecundity. Several suitable by-products were identified that can be used in high quantities as single component diet for <i>T. molitor</i> rearing, revealing a high survival rate, short development time, high mean total biomass, and successful breeding. The most successful substrate—malt residual pellets—was found to be an alternative to the most used substrate, wheat bran. Furthermore, corn germ meal, sweet chestnuts, bread remains, soybeans, sweet potatoes, and wheat germs have been discovered to be suitable diets for <i>T. molitor</i>. Moreover, the findings of this study contribute towards using several substrates as supplements. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:50:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f02e79f55dd04c21b08af24a3085451c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:50:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj.art-f02e79f55dd04c21b08af24a3085451c2023-11-24T14:42:02ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582023-11-011222409210.3390/foods12224092Future Proteins: Sustainable Diets for <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Rearing Composed of Food By-ProductsAndrea Lienhard0René Rehorska1Barbara Pöllinger-Zierler2Chiara Mayer3Monika Grasser4Simon Berner5Institute of Applied Production Sciences, Sustainable Food Management, University of Applied Sciences FH JOANNEUM, Eggenberger Allee 11, 8020 Graz, AustriaInstitute of Applied Production Sciences, Sustainable Food Management, University of Applied Sciences FH JOANNEUM, Eggenberger Allee 11, 8020 Graz, AustriaInstitute of Applied Production Sciences, Sustainable Food Management, University of Applied Sciences FH JOANNEUM, Eggenberger Allee 11, 8020 Graz, AustriaInstitute of Applied Production Sciences, Sustainable Food Management, University of Applied Sciences FH JOANNEUM, Eggenberger Allee 11, 8020 Graz, AustriaInstitute of Applied Production Sciences, Sustainable Food Management, University of Applied Sciences FH JOANNEUM, Eggenberger Allee 11, 8020 Graz, AustriaInstitute of Applied Production Sciences, Sustainable Food Management, University of Applied Sciences FH JOANNEUM, Eggenberger Allee 11, 8020 Graz, AustriaSince the human population is continuously growing, sufficient food with low environmental impact is required. Especially, the challenge of providing proteins will deepen and insects can contribute to a more sustainable and efficient source of protein for human consumption. <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> larvae are highly nutritious and rearing mealworms is more environmentally friendly compared to the production of traditional livestock meat. To use <i>T. molitor</i> as a more sustainable alternative to conventional proteins, it is essential to apply diets from a local and sustainable source. Therefore, the objective of this study was to find local by-products or leftovers which can be used in mass production of larvae as a main substrate. Feeding trials investigating twenty-nine different substrates were conducted to evaluate larval growth performance and adult reproduction by determining development times, survival rates, biomass, and fecundity. Several suitable by-products were identified that can be used in high quantities as single component diet for <i>T. molitor</i> rearing, revealing a high survival rate, short development time, high mean total biomass, and successful breeding. The most successful substrate—malt residual pellets—was found to be an alternative to the most used substrate, wheat bran. Furthermore, corn germ meal, sweet chestnuts, bread remains, soybeans, sweet potatoes, and wheat germs have been discovered to be suitable diets for <i>T. molitor</i>. Moreover, the findings of this study contribute towards using several substrates as supplements.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/22/4092mealwormssustainabilityprotein sourceinsectsby-productsinsect rearing |
| spellingShingle | Andrea Lienhard René Rehorska Barbara Pöllinger-Zierler Chiara Mayer Monika Grasser Simon Berner Future Proteins: Sustainable Diets for <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Rearing Composed of Food By-Products Foods mealworms sustainability protein source insects by-products insect rearing |
| title | Future Proteins: Sustainable Diets for <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Rearing Composed of Food By-Products |
| title_full | Future Proteins: Sustainable Diets for <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Rearing Composed of Food By-Products |
| title_fullStr | Future Proteins: Sustainable Diets for <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Rearing Composed of Food By-Products |
| title_full_unstemmed | Future Proteins: Sustainable Diets for <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Rearing Composed of Food By-Products |
| title_short | Future Proteins: Sustainable Diets for <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Rearing Composed of Food By-Products |
| title_sort | future proteins sustainable diets for i tenebrio molitor i rearing composed of food by products |
| topic | mealworms sustainability protein source insects by-products insect rearing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/22/4092 |
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