Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Traditional livestock farming methods for protein production have significant environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and water pollution. With the global population increasing, there is a pressing need for sustainable and efficient protein sources. This research addresses this issue by developing cricket protein powder as an eco-friendly and nutritious alternative to conventional protein sources. Crickets require significantly fewer resources to produce the same amount of protein, thereby reducing environmental footprints. Additionally, utilizing pre-consumer food waste for cricket feed not only reduces food waste ending up in landfills but also promotes a circular economy, benefiting both rural and urban communities economically and environmentally.To achieve our goals, we will raise crickets on diets formulated from pre-consumer food waste, monitoring their growth rates, feed conversion ratios (FCR), and nutritional profiles. Next we will conduct detailed sensory evaluations to determine taste and aroma profiles, and perform proximate and micronutrient analyses to ensure nutritional adequacy. Finally we will evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different feed formulations and processing methods to ensure competitive pricing in the market.By accomplishing these goals, we expect to see a reduction in environmental impact, improved food security, and enhanced economic conditions for cricket farmers and waste management practices. This project holds the potential to revolutionize protein production, making it more sustainable and accessible to a broader population.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
5%
Applied
50%
Developmental
45%
Goals / Objectives
The primary goal of this project is to develop a sustainable and cost-effective cricket protein powder that meets both sensory and nutritional expectations, addressing the environmental and economic challenges associated with traditional livestock farming methods for protein production. This project aims to enhance the flavor profile and nutritional composition of cricket protein powder while ensuring it remains competitively priced in the market. Here are the objectives for this goal:Develop a cricket diet from food waste that produces a cricket protein powder with a flavor and nutritional profile that is acceptable to the target buyer.Utilize instrumental measurements and sensory analysis to establish a quantitative threshold, thereby streamlining sensory evaluation by discarding samples below this threshold.Develop and implement a feed formula production strategy aimed at achieving a final production cost at or below the competitive market price, considering both the FCR and food waste input costs as key factors in cost optimization.
Project Methods
METHODSCricket Rearing and Diet Testing:Crickets will be divided into groups and fed distinct diets from pinhead stage to adulthood.Monitoring parameters: growth rate, survival rate, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), and nutritional composition.Processing: Crickets will be harvested, rinsed, blanched, dried, ground, sieved, and stored for analysis.Sensory and Nutritional Analysis:Conduct organoleptic sensory analysis to evaluate flavor profiles.Perform proximate and micronutrient analysis to determine nutritional composition.Instrumental Measurements:Utilize 2D-GC/MS for volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis.Use HPLC/MS for fatty acid composition analysis.Measure peroxide and anisidine values to assess oil oxidation.Innovative Processing Techniques:Implementing protocols to preserve flavor and nutritional integrity during processing.High-Throughput Screening:Developing a screening protocol to predict flavor profiles efficiently.EVALUATION PLANExperimental Data Analysis:Analyze growth rates, FCR, sensory scores, and nutritional composition of cricket powders.Economic Assessments:Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different feed formulations and processing methods.?Technical Objectives:Achieve a sensory panel score of 4 or above and comparable proximates to market products.Establish a quantitative threshold for sensory evaluation.Validate feed formula production cost at or below $0.96-$1.28 per pound of harvested cricket.Outcomes:Increase understanding of cricket nutrition and flavor.Adoption of sustainable feeding practices and reduction in food waste.Improved economic viability of cricket farming.