Details of the project EPI

Optimization of mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) breeding based on a digital breeding model and artificial intelligence

01-01-2023 do 31-12-2024

1 380 836,46

EFRROW; national public funds

www.acheta.com.pl

The aim of the operation is to develop and implement innovations in the field of optimizing mealworm breeding, thanks to diversified breeding with the use of various food ingredients, as well as various environmental conditions. A model of digital insect breeding based on multidimensional/multilevel regressions and artificial neural networks will be used.

1. Determining the nutritional value of feed ingredients that can be used in farms carried out in real conditions. 2. Creating a spectrum of feeds with a varied composition, i.e. nutritional value, also containing their extreme variants that are needed to create a digital model. 3. Development of two software modules: A. A module for optimizing mealworm farming - an IT system supporting farming / breading management - i.e. "how to optimally run mealworm farming". B. Digital mealworm model - software simulating the achievable breeding result (parameters of mealworm larvae) with specific resources (feed, temperature, humidity). 4. Growing mealworm larvae with a protein level in dry matter in the range of 61,5-62% and an acid level in the fatty fraction of Omega 3 - 05-0,7& and Omega 6 - 9,4-9,6% respectively.

In the European union, under the formal and legal concept of the so-called "Novel food", 3 species of insects have already been approved for food use. The Council of the European Union has approved the addition of mealworm beetle larvae to te catalog of "novel foods". This decision by the Council is the result of scientific research carried out on its behalf by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Modern agriculture must be characterized by high production effciency combined with high quality of obtained products. To meet these requirements, advanced methods of data analysis are increasingly used, including those derived from artificial intelifence method. One of the most popular tools of this type are artificial neural networks (ANNs). They are widely used in solving various classification and prognostic tasks, and form some time also in the broadly understood field of agriculture.

insect breeding in Poland in the future 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, develp innovative entrepreneurship and increase food and feed production. For polish society, the concept of entomophagy is new and controversial, but in the future it may become the answer to problems related to human and animal nutrition.

There are many possibilities of using insects in food products, which results from their rich nutritional composition and functional properties. Mealworm can be consumed by any population group either whole, as dried larvae, or as dried larvae powder; it can be the main and only food ingredient or be one of the infredients of food products.

animal husbandry and welfare