Sustainable Strategies to Increase the Content of Protein, Unsaturated Fatty Acids and Vitamins in <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Larvae Flours through Vegetable Waste Supplementation

Abstract

Tenebrio molitor larvae were fed with wheat bran and supplemented (1:1) with tomato or cucumber agricultural waste for 6 weeks. After supplementation, larvae were dried in a pilot-infrared oven (68 °C for 4 h) and ground to obtain the flours. The quality attributes and nutritional value of insect flours differed based on the supplemented diet. Unsaturated fatty acids, proteins, starches and certain vitamins were enhanced in flours from supplemented larvae. Therefore, tomato and cucumber waste can be revalorised as supplements of T. molitors’ conventional diet to obtain insect flours with higher nutritional values and acceptable-quality attributes.

Keywords

• insect farming
• mealworm flour
• alternative protein
• linoleic acid
• vitamins
• quality attributes