Details of the project EPI

Innovative technology for processing mealworm larvae and introducing safe products of insect origin to the market

27-04-2023 do 31-12-2024

4 806 598,00

EFRROW: 3 058 438,30 PLN; national public funds: 1 748 159,70 PLN.

https://www.tenebriomolitogroup.com/

The aim is to introduce innovative products to the Polish market: insect protein (insect PAP) defatted and with low chitin content (low fat, low chitin); insect fat (oil) containing unsaturated fatty acids and chitin, obtained by means of an innovative process of processing biomas of mealworm larvae through combined techniques of mechanical processing and solvent extraction based on an individual method of raw material processing. The result will be a processing plant with a prototype technological line for processing mealworm and an individual breeding method as well as an individual method of processing biomass of mealworm insect larvae.

Construction of a production building with a prototype technological line for processing mealwor insect larvae, development of an individual breeding method for mealworm and laboratory tests to optimize the raw material and high quality of the obtained products, which will result in the introduction of 3 innovative products on the market in the form of: - insect protein (insect PAP); - insect fat (oil); - chitin.

The need for the operation is justified by scientific research on the breeding and use of mealworm in the agricultural and food industry as an optimal protein. Insects can provide environmentally sustainable production of animal feed and human food. In recent years, the feed industry in Poland and Europe has had to import protein-rich raw materials such as soya or fishmeal. For this reason, an intensive search for alternative sources of protein began. insects can be an important source of high-quality protein and other nutrients. insect farming in Poland may develop into a completely new form of agricultural activity, which may provide an opportunity to retrain farmers whose farms have been affected by African swine fever (ASF) or avian influenza (AI - Avian influenza). It will also create opportunities to create new jobs, develop innovative entrepreneurship and increase food and feed production. Optimized breeding of insects for feed and food purposes may have a lower negative impact

Breeding of ediable insects has great development potential. According to the UN report, the consumption of insects can be helpful in the fight against hunger in the world. It is an important element of supplementing feed protein deficiencies in countries with a low acreage of protein crops, and insects can ensure sustainable and environmentally friendly production of human food and animal feed. Protein obtained from selected insect species has been aprroved in EU countries and can be used in the production of feed for fish, companion animals, poultry and pigs. The insect production market is constantly growing, with economists forecasting an increase in global production to around 1,200,000 in 2025. Due to the development cycle, ease of breeding and nutritional value of the final products, one of the most attractive insects in breeding is considered to be mealworm listed by the European Food Safety Authority. Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to catalog "novel foods" as a rich so

The investment implemented under the project (a processing plant with a technological line for processing mealworm) will lead to an increase in the profitability of production along with an increase in the quality of mealworm larvae, and thus an increase in competitiveness. The use of an innovative method of larvae processing will allow for the optimization of the raw material and the high quality of the obtained products. The selection of optimal environmental conditions and methods of feeding and the type of food served will make the bred larvae a raw material form which high-quality products with optimal nutritional parameters will be obtained. It will be delivered to recipients as safe. It is expected that the final result of the project will include such values: increase in demand for manufactured products.

In the course of the operation, new products will be created on the market: insect protein (insect PAP) defatted and with low chitin content (low fat, low chitin); insect fat (oil) containing unsaturated fatty acids and extracted chitin. Another product, but already present on the market, will be processed insect protein in a full-fat version (imported product or produced on laboratory scale). The new products will be able to be used in the production of pet food for special purposes; hypoallergenic diet for animals with diet-related enteropathies; a diet aimed at improving the structure and functionality of the skin and its products (alleviating the symptoms of skin allergies); diet that improves the functional state of the immune system. Insect fat can also be used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries and as technical fat. Chitin obtained in the fractionation and extraction processes will be charakterized by a high level of purity and can be used as a raw material for pharmaceutical production and as a substance with sorption properties in feed applications. The operation will also result in new technologies. Process of biomass processing of insect larvae through combined techniques of mechanical treatment and solvent extraction. An additional element in this technology will be a computer application for forecasting parameters of mealworm biomass depending on the conditions of the breeding environment (temperature and humidity).

agricultural production system