O cascudinho (Alphitobius diaperinus) é um inseto da família Tenebrionidae originário do oeste africano, comumente encontrado em grãos armazenados e em galpões de criação de frangos de corte, matrizes e perus. É uma das principais pragas da indústria aviária em diversos países do mundo. Em razão deste fato a pesquisa teve como objetivo determinar as doses letais e esterilizantes para todas as fases do ciclo de vida do cascudinho A. diaperinus visando o seu controle. O experimento foi realizado no Laboratório de Radiobiologia e Ambiente do Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura - CENA/USP. Todas as fases do ciclo evolutivo do inseto (ovo, larva, pupa e adulto) foram irradiadas com doses crescentes de radiação gama do Cobalto-60, de: 0 (controle), e de 10 - 300 Gy. Para ovos cada tratamento constou de 5 repetições com 10 ovos cada, num total de 50 por tratamento. Para larvas, pupas e adultos cada tratamento constaram de 5 repetições com 20 indivíduos cada, num total de 100 por tratamento. Após a irradiação os insetos foram mantidos em sala climatizada com 25 ± 5 °C ; 75 ± 5 % de umidade relativa e fotofase 12:12 hrs. Foram feitas as avaliações a cada 7 dias por um período de 49 dias da mortalidade e emergência dos adultos das fases de: ovos, larvas, pupas e adultos. O delineamento estatístico experimental para o ensaio foi inteiramente casualizado em esquema de 5x7 (5 tratamentos e 7 de avaliação). Os resultados obtidos nas avaliações foram submetidos a análise de variância pelo teste F, e a comparação das medias pelo teste de Tukey a 5%, utilizando-se o sistema estatístico SAS (Statistical Analysis System, 1999). Pelos resultados obtidos concluiu-se que as dos letais e esterilizantes para todas as fases do ciclo de vida do inseto, foram: ovos doses de 30 e 20 Gy; larvas 125 e 100 Gy; pupas 150 e 125 Gy e a dose esterilizante para adultos 150 Gy. / The mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) is a family Tenebrionidae insect originally from West Africa, commonly found in stored grain and sheds creation of broilers, turkeys and matrices. It is one of the main pests of poultry industry in many countries. Because of this fact the survey was to determine the lethal and sterilizing doses for all phases of the life cycle of the mealworm A. diaperinus aimed at your control. The experiment was conducted at the Laboratory of Radiobiology and Environment of the Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture - CENA / USP. All phases of the life cycle of the insect (egg, larva, pupa and adult) were irradiated with increasing doses of gamma radiation from Cobalt-60 of: 0 (control), and 10 300 Gy. Each treatment to eggs consisted of 5 repetitions with 10 eggs each for a total of 50 per treatment. For larvae, pupae and adults each treatment consisted of 5 repetitions with 20 individuals each for a total of 100 per treatment. After irradiation the insects were kept in a room with 25 ± 5 ° C; 70 ± 5% relative humidity and photophase 12:12 hrs. The evaluations were done every 7 days for a 49-day period of mortality and adult emergence of stages: eggs, larvae, pupae and adults. The experimental statistical design for the test was completely randomized in a 5x7 layout (5 treatments and 7 processing). The results obtained in the evaluations were submitted to analysis of variance by F test and comparison of averages by 5% Tukey test, using the statistical system SAS (Statistical Analysis System, 1999). From the results obtained it was concluded that the lethal and sterilizing all stages in the life cycle of the insect were: egg lethal dose 30 Gy sterilizing 20 Gy; larva sterilizing and lethal dose 100 Gy and 125 Gy; pupa sterilizing and lethal dose 125 and 150 Gy and sterilizing adult dose 150 Gy.

O cascudinho (Alphitobius diaperinus) é um inseto da família Tenebrionidae originário do oeste africano, comumente encontrado em grãos armazenados e em galpões de criação de frangos de corte, matrizes e perus. É uma das principais pragas da indústria aviária em diversos países do mundo. Em razão deste fato a pesquisa teve como objetivo determinar as doses letais e esterilizantes para todas as fases do ciclo de vida do cascudinho A. diaperinus visando o seu controle. O experimento foi realizado no Laboratório de Radiobiologia e Ambiente do Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura - CENA/USP. Todas as fases do ciclo evolutivo do inseto (ovo, larva, pupa e adulto) foram irradiadas com doses crescentes de radiação gama do Cobalto-60, de: 0 (controle), e de 10 - 300 Gy. Para ovos cada tratamento constou de 5 repetições com 10 ovos cada, num total de 50 por tratamento. Para larvas, pupas e adultos cada tratamento constaram de 5 repetições com 20 indivíduos cada, num total de 100 por tratamento. Após a irradiação os insetos foram mantidos em sala climatizada com 25 ± 5 °C ; 75 ± 5 % de umidade relativa e fotofase 12:12 hrs. Foram feitas as avaliações a cada 7 dias por um período de 49 dias da mortalidade e emergência dos adultos das fases de: ovos, larvas, pupas e adultos. O delineamento estatístico experimental para o ensaio foi inteiramente casualizado em esquema de 5x7 (5 tratamentos e 7 de avaliação). Os resultados obtidos nas avaliações foram submetidos a análise de variância pelo teste F, e a comparação das medias pelo teste de Tukey a 5%, utilizando-se o sistema estatístico SAS (Statistical Analysis System, 1999). Pelos resultados obtidos concluiu-se que as dos letais e esterilizantes para todas as fases do ciclo de vida do inseto, foram: ovos doses de 30 e 20 Gy; larvas 125 e 100 Gy; pupas 150 e 125 Gy e a dose esterilizante para adultos 150 Gy. / The mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) is a family Tenebrionidae insect originally from West Africa, commonly found in stored grain and sheds creation of broilers, turkeys and matrices. It is one of the main pests of poultry industry in many countries. Because of this fact the survey was to determine the lethal and sterilizing doses for all phases of the life cycle of the mealworm A. diaperinus aimed at your control. The experiment was conducted at the Laboratory of Radiobiology and Environment of the Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture - CENA / USP. All phases of the life cycle of the insect (egg, larva, pupa and adult) were irradiated with increasing doses of gamma radiation from Cobalt-60 of: 0 (control), and 10 300 Gy. Each treatment to eggs consisted of 5 repetitions with 10 eggs each for a total of 50 per treatment. For larvae, pupae and adults each treatment consisted of 5 repetitions with 20 individuals each for a total of 100 per treatment. After irradiation the insects were kept in a room with 25 ± 5 ° C; 70 ± 5% relative humidity and photophase 12:12 hrs. The evaluations were done every 7 days for a 49-day period of mortality and adult emergence of stages: eggs, larvae, pupae and adults. The experimental statistical design for the test was completely randomized in a 5x7 layout (5 treatments and 7 processing). The results obtained in the evaluations were submitted to analysis of variance by F test and comparison of averages by 5% Tukey test, using the statistical system SAS (Statistical Analysis System, 1999). From the results obtained it was concluded that the lethal and sterilizing all stages in the life cycle of the insect were: egg lethal dose 30 Gy sterilizing 20 Gy; larva sterilizing and lethal dose 100 Gy and 125 Gy; pupa sterilizing and lethal dose 125 and 150 Gy and sterilizing adult dose 150 Gy.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Entomology / C. M. Smith / Brenda Oppert / Coleopteran insects compensate for dietary protease inhibitors by a number of mechanisms. To study this compensation response at the molecular level, the digestive proteases of Tenebrio molitor were studied. Biochemical studies of the pH optima and inhibitor sensitivity of proteases indicated the cysteine proteases were mostly in the anterior and serine proteases were in the posterior midgut of T. molitor larvae. Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) from T. molitor larval midgut cDNA libraries contained sequences encoding putative digestive proteases. Of a total of 1,528 cDNA sequences, 92 cDNAs encoded proteases, and 50 full-length cDNAs were grouped into serine, cysteine and metallo protease classes. Sequences tmt1a, tmt1b and tmt1c were identified as genes encoding isoforms of T. molitor trypsin, and tmc1a encoded T. molitor chymotrypsin. The general distribution cysteine protease transcripts in the anterior and serine protease transcripts in the posterior midgut, of T. molitor larvae, was in agreement with the biochemically-characterized compartmentalization of proteases. Expression analyses of selected transcripts demonstrated varied expression patterns across five developmental stages of T. molitor, with maximal expression of most protease transcripts in first instar larvae. Dietary serine and cysteine protease inhibitors fed in combination to early-instar T. molitor larvae caused a significant delay in larval growth in 21-day-old larvae. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis of RNA isolated from larvae fed different protease inhibitor treatments indicated that dietary inhibitors affected the expression of serine and cysteine proteases. Larvae fed soybean trypsin inhibitor, a serine protease inhibitor, compensated by the hyperproduction of proteases from the same class, as well as the upregulation of cysteine proteases. A cysteine protease inhibitor, E-64, caused a reduction in the hyperproduction of all proteases, and, in combination with the soybean trypsin inhibitor, lowered the compensation response of T. molitor larvae to negligible levels. These data suggest that T. molitor larvae are more sensitive to the effects of cysteine protease inhibitors, perhaps because these proteases are the first line of defense for larvae against plant protease inhibitor. The bioassay and molecular studies suggested that combinations of inhibitors that target both serine and cysteine proteases are needed to effectively control larval infestations of T. molitor.

Thesis (M. Sc. Agriculture (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of replacing soya bean meal with yellow mealworm larvae meal (Tenebrio molitor) in a diet on productivity, gut morphology, carcass characteristics and bone morphometrics of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 42 days. In each experiment, a total of 360 Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to the five dietary treatments, each treatment having four replications, and 18 chickens per replicate. Five diets were formulated to contain yellow mealworm replacement levels at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% to meet the nutrient requirements of Ross 308 broiler chickens. Data was analysed using the General Linear Model procedures of the Statistical Analysis System, Version 9.3.1 software program. Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD) test was applied for mean separation where there were significant differences (P<0.05). A quadratic regression model was used to determine the levels for optimal responses in the variables measured. The first experiment determined the effect of replacing soya bean meal with yellow mealworm larvae meal on productivity and gut morphology of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Replacement of soya bean meal with yellow mealworm meal in a diet had no effect (p > 0.05) on feed intake, growth rate, FCR, live body weight, ME intake and nitrogen retention of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Replacing soya bean meal with yellow mealworm meal in a diet did not affect (p > 0.05) caecum weight of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens. However, replacing soya bean meal with yellow mealworm meal in a diet increased (p < 0.05) gastro intestinal tract, crop, ileum and large intestine weights. Crop and ileum lengths of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 21 days were not affected (p > 0.05) by replacement of soya bean meal with yellow mealworm meal in the diet. However, replacing soya bean meal with yellow mealworm meal in a diet increased (p < 0.05) gizzard, caecum and large intestine lengths of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 21 days. Yellow mealworm meal in a diet did not affect (p > 0.05) gut organ digesta pH values of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 21 days. The second experiment determined the effect of replacing soya bean meal with yellow mealworm meal in a diet on productivity, gut morphology, carcass characteristics and bone morphometrics of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. Replacement of soya bean meal with yellow mealworm meal in a diet did not affect (p > 0.05) growth rate, FCR, ME intake and nitrogen retention of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. However, replacing soya bean meal with yellow mealworm meal in a diet affected (p < 0.05) feed intake and live body weight of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. Broiler chickens on diets containing 75 or 100% yellow mealworm meal had higher (p < 0.05) intakes than those on diets containing no yellow mealworm meal. Similarly, male broiler chickens on diets having 50% yellow mealworm meal had higher (p < 0.05) live body weights than those on diets containing no yellow mealworm. Quadratic equations indicated that feed intake and live body weight of male Ross 308 broiler chickens were optimized at yellow mealworm meal replacement levels of 13 and 61%, respectively. The present study showed that replacing soya bean meal with yellow mealworm meal in a diet did not affect (p > 0.05) gut organ digesta pH values, gut organ weights, gut organ lengths, meat colour, meat pH values, bone morphometric values, carcass part weights and meat sensory attributes of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 42 days. However, meat from chickens on diets containing yellow mealworm meal was softer (p < 0.05) than meat from chickens on diets having 100% soya bean meal. It is concluded that soya bean meal can be replaced with yellow mealworm larvae meal in a diet at 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels without having adverse effects on production and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 42 days

Approximately a third of all food produced globally is thrown away, causing both unnecessary environmental impact and unnecessary costs for producers and consumers. Food waste occurs in all steps in the supply chain, from primary production to retail stores, restaurants, and households. In Sweden, the most common treatments for food waste are biogas or incineration. However, these processes are located relatively far down the waste hierarchy. Therefore, alternative food waste management processes such as using food waste as feed would purposely be more efficient and enable a more circular food value chain. Using food waste as feed to insects has shown great potential and could reduce the environmental impact of the food value chain. Several previous studies have assessed the feasibility of using food waste as feed for insects. However, in order to actually implement it, it also needs to be economically feasible for all involved stakeholders in the value chain. Therefore, the aim of the report was to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a circular food waste management system through the utilization of food waste as feed for insects, with a focus on the economic aspect. The study’s method was mainly based on a Stakeholder Opinion Assessment, where relevant stakeholders along a potential value chain using food waste as feed to insects were consulted. Based on the interviews, the feasibility of implementing circular business models through the utilization of food waste as feed for insects was assessed. This was done by identifying drivers and barriers to implementing circular business models for each stakeholder, as well as by developing a circular business model canvas for a central stakeholder. Key stakeholders in a potential value chain enabling using food waste as feed to insects were identified as waste management companies, insect producers, feed producers, animal producers, and food industries. Insect producers were identified as a central stakeholder. Several drivers and barriers for implementing more circular business models using food waste as feed for insects were identified for these stakeholders. The largest driver was the organizational driver, as there was a large sustainability motivation amongst most actors to contribute to a more circular food value chain and provide a more sustainable protein production for feed or food. For several stakeholders, legislation was identified as a large barrier since it is considered complicated, hard to interpret, and not made for a circular industry. Another large barrier for almost all stakeholders was identified as the financial factor. Many actors considered the price of the product or service to be significant, and a large investment cost would be needed for some stakeholders. The developed circular business model canvas showed for instance that insect producers could provide different value propositions to different customer segments; a more sustainable food waste treatment to municipalities or food industries, or providing an alternative protein to customers or farmers. Several internal and external adoption factors can also support the transition toward the circular business model. For instance, to enable economic feasibility, automation is significant, as well as potentially a large-scale production, or a mix between large and small-scale production. Lastly, using food waste as feed to insects could be a significant part of the circular economy by closing the loop of the food value chain. However, preventing food waste should always be the highest priority. Future studies should investigate the potential risks associated with different substrates found in household food waste, as well as explore the potential impact on flavor in farmed animals due to insect-based feed. Moreover, interviewing more stakeholders would enhance generalizability. / Ungefär en tredjedel av all mat som produceras globalt slängs, vilket orsakar både onödig miljöpåverkan och onödiga kostnader för producenter och konsumenter. Matsvinn uppstår i alla steg i försörjningskedjan; från primärproduktion till butiker, restauranger och i hushåll. I Sverige är den vanligaste behandlingen av matavfall biogasproduktion eller förbränning. Dock är dessa processer placerade relativt långt ner i avfallshierarkin, och därför skulle alternativa processer, som att använda matavfall som foder till djur, vara mer effektivt och möjliggöra en mer cirkulär livsmedelsvärdekedja. Att använda matavfall som foder till insekter har visat sig ha stor potential och skulle kunna minska miljöpåverkan jämfört med alternativ matavfallshantering. Flera tidigare studier har undersökt möjligheten att använda matavfall som foder för insekter, men för att verkligen genomföra det måste det dessutom vara ekonomiskt genomförbart för alla inblandade intressenter i värdekedjan. Syftet med rapporten var därför att utvärdera genomförbarheten av att implementera ett cirkulärt hanteringssystem för matavfall genom att använda matavfall som foder för insekter, med fokus på den ekonomiska aspekten. Den främsta metoden som användes i studien var “Stakeholder Opinion Assessment”, där intervjuer skedde med relevanta intressenter längs en potentiell värdekedja som använder matavfall som foder till insekter. Baserat på intervjuerna utvärderades genomförbarheten av att implementera cirkulära affärsmodeller genom att använda matavfall som foder för insekter. Detta gjordes genom att identifiera drivkrafter och hinder för att implementera cirkulära affärsmodeller för varje intressent, samt genom att utveckla en cirkulär affärsmodellcanvas för en central intressent. Nyckelintressenter i en potentiell värdekedja som möjliggör användning av matavfall som foder till insekter identifierades som avfallshanteringsföretag, insektsproducenter, foderproducenter, djurproducenter och livsmedelsindustrier. Av dessa identifierades insektsproducenter som en central intressent. Flera drivkrafter och hinder för att implementera mer cirkulära affärsmodeller med matavfall som foder för insekter identifierades för dessa intressenter. Den största drivkraften visade sig vara den organisatoriska drivkraften, eftersom det fanns en stor hållbarhetsmotivation bland de flesta aktörer att bidra till en mer cirkulär livsmedelsvärdekedja, samt tillhandahålla en mer hållbar proteinproduktion för foder eller livsmedel. För flera intressenter identifierades lagstiftning som en stor barriär eftersom den anses vara komplicerad, svårtolkad och inte gjord för en cirkulär industri. En annan stor barriär för nästan alla intressenter identifierades som den finansiella faktorn. Många aktörer ansåg att priset på produkten eller tjänsten var betydande och en stor investeringskostnad skulle behövas för vissa intressenter. Cirkulära affärsmodellcanvasen visade exempelvis att insektsproducenter kan ge olika värdeerbjudanden till olika kundsegment; en mer hållbar hantering av matavfall till kommuner eller livsmedelsindustrier, eller erbjuda en alternativ proteinkälla till kunder eller bönder. Flera interna och externa adoptionsfaktorer kan också stödja övergången till den cirkulära affärsmodellen. Bland annat är automatisering och potentiellt en storskalig produktion, eller en blandning mellan stor- och småskalig produktion, viktigt för att möjliggöra ekonomisk genomförbarhet. Slutligen kan användningen av matavfall som foder till insekter vara en betydande del i en cirkulär ekonomi då det kan göra livsmedelsvärdekedjan mer cirkulär. Att förhindra matsvinn bör dock alltid ha högsta prioritet. Framtida studier bör undersöka de potentiella riskerna förknippade med olika substrat som kan finnas i hushållsmatavfall, samt undersöka om smaken på lantbruksdjur påverkas till följd av insektsbaserat foder. Att intervjua fler intressenter skulle dessutom öka generaliserbarheten.

Syftet med studien är att genom sensoriska analyser sammanställa ett doft- och smakbibliotek för hampfrö-presskaka, gula mjölmasklarver, texturerad veteprotein, ärtproteinisolat och ärtprotein koncentrat. Metoderna pilotstudie, konsensustest och in-house intensitetstest används i studieprocessen. Pilotstudiens syfte är att få en ökad förståelse för produkternas doft och smak. Konsensustestet är en central punkt för uppbyggnaden av doft- och smakbiblioteket, eftersom övervägande attribut som genererats under testet används till produktbeskrivningen i doft- och smakbiblioteket. Inhouse intensitetstestet avsikt är verifiera attributgenereringens validitet från konsensustestet. Resultatet från pilotstudien bidrar med referenser till konsensustestet. Det finns även gemensamma egenskapsord för produkternas doft- och smak i pilotstudien och i konsensustestet. Resultatet från konsensustestet visar att det är svårt att särskilja smak från munkänsla, där till exempel olja kan fastställas som en smak från hampfrö-presskaka. Resultatet från inhouse intensitetstestet har ett större bortfall, vilket gör det svårt att fastställa attributen på grund av differentialen i minimum- och maximum värdet. Attribut som gav en beskrivande text till biblioteket visar att hampfrö-presskaka har en doft av gräs och tång där smak påminner om doft. Ärtproteinisolat doftar framför allt spannmål och smaken påminner om frön och majs. Gula mjölmasklarver doftar cerealier och valnötter, där smaken utgår från grundsmaken umami. Texturerad veteprotein har en doft som kan härledas till rostade vetepuffar och havregryn, där smak påminner om doft. Sista produkten ärtprotein koncentrat, har en doft av ärtskott och en besk smak. / The purpose of the study is to construct a fragrance- and flavour library for sensory analyses for hemp seed press cake, yellow mealworms, textured wheat protein, pea protein isolate and pea protein concentrate. The methods pilot study, consensus test and inhouse intensity test are used to be able to execute the study. The purpose of the pilot study is to gain an increased understanding of the fragrance- and flavour of the pre-products. The consensus test is a central point for the structure of the fragrance- and flavour library, since predominant attributes generated during the test are used for the product description in the fragrance- and flavour library. The purpose of the inhouse intensity test is to verify the validity of the attribute generation from the consensus test. The results from the pilot study contribute with references to the consensus test. There are also common attributes for the products' fragrance- and flavour in the pilot study and in the consensus test. The results from the consensus test show that it is difficult to distinguish between taste and mouthfeel. For example, can oil from hemp seed press cake be determined as a flavour. The result from the inhouse intensity test has a large statistical error, which makes it difficult to determine the attributes due to the differential in the minimum- and maximum value. Attributes that gave a descriptive text to the library show that hemp seed press cake has a scent of grass and seaweed where the taste is reminiscent of the scent. Pea protein isolate mainly smells of grain, the taste is reminiscent of seeds and corn. Yellow mealworms smell like cereals and walnuts where the taste is based on the basic taste umami. Textured wheat protein has a scent that can remind of roasted wheat puffs and oatmeal, where the taste is reminiscent of the scent. The last product is pea protein concentrate, which has a scent of pea shoots, and the taste is bitter.