This project aims to carry out the research in the field of the alternative sources of the proteins. According to the FAO, the use of the insects for animal feed as well as for human nutrition can help to resolve the problem of the proteins deficiency associated with an increase of the global population. The larvae of the flies (Hermetia illucens) were selected as the object of the research because they are rich in proteins. The selection of the research object was determined by the well-researched conditions of the flies breeding and good availability of the raw material in Lithuania. The quality of the proteins is determined by the composition of the essential amino acids, their suitability for human needs as well as by proteins digestibility. The digestibility of the Hermetia illucens larvae has not been investigated before. Therefore, the quality of Hermetia illucens larvae protein is planned to be investigated using the currently recommended DIAAS method by evaluating the composition of the amino acids and digestibility of the proteins in vivo. However, in vivo studies are expensive and time-consuming (at least nine days). Moreover, the research faces the ethical issues of the animal use for the research. For this reason, the improvement of the alternative methodologies for the in vitro researches are of the high importance in order to develop the reliable method for the proteins digestibility allowing the use of the animals to be avoided.
Project funding:
KTU R&D&I Fund
Period of project implementation: 2018-03-20 - 2018-12-31
Project partners: Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
