With global food demand soaring, a new study has found evidence that a particular insect is extremely valuable as an alternative protein source. This is the yellow flour worm.
The research is led by Christine Picard , associate professor of biology and director of the Forensic and Investigative Sciences program at the IUPUI School of Science. It is based on a new genome analysis of the mealworm species Tenebrio Molitor.
The work was published in the Journal of Insects as Food and Feed.
The research
“Human populations continue to increase (ed., who knows) and the stress on protein production is increasing at an unsustainable rate, without considering climate change,” said Picard, whose lab focuses on the use of insects to meet global food demand.
Research has found that the yellow mealworm (historically a pest) can provide benefits in a wide range of agricultural applications. Not only can it be used as an alternative source of protein for animals, including fish, but its waste is also ideal as an organic fertilizer.
We know everything about him
Picard and his team sequenced the yellow mealworm genome with 10X chromium-linked reading technology. The findings will help those who now wish to use DNA and optimize the yellow flour worm for mass production and consumption.
“Insect genomes are challenging, and the longer the DNA sequence you can generate, the better genome you can assemble,” Picard said.
The mealworm, multipurpose resource
Picard and her team intend to examine some of the biological processes of the yellow mealworm to exploit information useful for their commercialization.
Like other insects, mealworms are also part of the natural diet of many organisms. Fish like them a lot, for example. They could also be really useful in the pet food industry as an alternative protein source. And perhaps one day also to humans as an alternative source of protein.
