Project description
High protein critters for sustainable bioeconomy
Bugs are an important source of proteins. Edible insects are already on the menu in parts of Africa, Asia and Central and South America – not only as an emergency resource, but as a tasty snack. To date, as many as 1 500 edible insects’ species in more than 100 countries have been recorded. The EU-funded inTECH project will improve processing and extraction technologies for the sustainable exploitation of macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids) from insects. The project is developing the first technological toolbox of pre-treatment, extraction, processing and drying techniques for house crickets, which have one of the highest protein contents among edible insects. It will also adopt a zero-waste process, contributing towards a sustainable bioeconomy.
Objective
The overall aim of the inTECH project is to develop eco-innovative technological solutions for sustainable exploitation of insects into key macromolecules. The inTECH is built on the applicant’s existing technical and research competencies in the area of novel processing and extraction technologies thus enabling her to transfer these skills to develop and optimise eco-innovative technologies for sustainable exploitation of insect fractions including proteins, lipids and chitin for potential food applications. Insect derived proteins are of interest as a sustainable substitute for conventional sources of proteins commonly employed for food and feed applications. Currently, employed extraction techniques are not environmental friendly and mainly rely on the use of solvents. The inTECH project will investigate and develop key eco-innovative processing/extraction technologies platform that have a proven track record in their ability to enhance extraction yields and that are also environment friendly. The innovative aspect of inTECH project will be to develop first-of-a-kind technological toolbox of pretreatment, extraction, processing and drying techniques suitable for house crickets while adopting a zero-waste process for holistic utilisation of all insect fractions. It is expected that the inTECH project will address EU’s challenge of protein deficits and contribute towards sustainable bioeconomy.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
14469 Potsdam
Germany