Circular economy approach for mealworm industrial production for human consumption

Abstract

United Nations has settled that in 2050 world population could reach 9.8 billion people so the food and protein requirements will increase, on the basis of this, the actual paper presents a proposal for a circular economy approach of the industrial production process of the edible insect Tenebrio molitor (T. molitor) as food. Edible insects are a great solution because of their source of protein, omegas and minerals they are considered as an alternative to ensure food security in a sustainable way. The process of breeding and harvesting T. molitor has been designed from the perspective of maximum use of all the resources involved, reducing waste production, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and the use of all by-products derived from the process, with the aim to be used in agriculture, pharmacy, food and feed. Throughout the course of the T. molitor's breeding needs to be supplied by organic food and a minimal use of water obtained by fruits and vegetables; all the waste generated by it: frass and exoskeletons (chitin), can be reuse with agricultural organic fertilizer purposes (flowering) and it is a great value supply in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, that is why the importance of recovering of the larva's exoskeleton from the process. The processes of breeding and harvesting of the T. molitor from its beetle stage to the larval stage are described in the 'know how' to obtain an edible organic product as a powder or simply as a dehydrated product.