Project
Title
Sustainable and resilient cultivation of insects for innovative use in feed and food production
Acronym
reKultI4Food
Start
01.11.2021
End
30.04.2025
Coordinating Institute
Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau (FiBL) Switzerland
Coordinator
Partner
Südzucker AG / Beneo
Evonic Operations GmbH
CrustaNova GmbH
Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau (FiBL) Switzerland
Hermetia Baruth GmbH
AGRAVIS Raiffeisen AG
Project team ATB
Allocated to research program
Summary
High-quality animal proteins are difficult to replace largely by plant proteins in the feeding of carnivorous fish and omnivorous monogastric animals. The use of insect protein derived from by-products and residual streams from the cultivation and production of food could significantly improve the sustainability of animal husbandry by closing gaps in nutrient cycles. So far, however, the economic production of insect protein has been difficult because, in the absence of specifically optimised production and processing methods, it cannot compete in price with conventional protein feeds such as fish meal or soy. In addition, the value-added potential of insect ingredients has hardly been exploited so far. Making scientific contributions, minimising future protein deficits and at the same time improving the sustainability of food production as well as increasing the economic viability of insect proteins are the overarching goals of the project. Focusing on the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, which is promising for feed and food production, the following sub-objectives are pursued: 1) a better understanding of nutrient utilisation and nutrient requirements of insect larvae, 2) their application for production-relevant quantitative and qualitative improvement of sustainable insect production through the utilisation of relevant residues, 3) detailed knowledge of consumer- and authority-relevant microbiological parameters in the context of insect protein production, and 4) the evaluation of the use of insect protein in an innovative practical trial for feeding in aquaculture.
Funding
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
Funding agency
Projektträger Jülich (PtJ)
Grant agreement number
031B1206B
Funding framework
Innovationsräume Bioökonomie - Innovationsraum New Food Systems