Scientists TSU offered to feed people and cattle worms – NIA Tomsk

Scientists Tomsk State University offer made from biomass California red earthworms food for humans, drugs, and cosmetics, as well as animal feed.

 
 

According to NIA Tomsk in the press service of the TSU, earthworms – versatile plant for the production of high-quality dietary protein. So says the head of the Department of Plant Protection, TSU professor Andrey Babenko, who has more than 20 years of experience in their cultivation.

 
 

«Worms – a protein with a very high protein content. Experiments show that it is not inferior to beef protein and other valuable breeds of domestic animals. Besides I jokingly say that this meat without bones. On Earth, there is no other organisms in which the net weight was muscle to over 70 percent. It’s the same cattle breeding “, – says Andrey Sergeyevich.

 
 

The starting population of worms, placed in a good substrate for the year increased by 10-15 times. The degree of processing of worms depends on which product to get. Minimal processing is sufficient if the products are intended for feeding livestock. Further processing is required if the protein is to be used as part of the human diet.

 
 

Animal protein, rich in biologically active substances, is a valuable component for the manufacture of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. In East Asian countries – China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan – are a variety of factories producing drugs based on protein worms. However, demand for these products is greater than the supply. Therefore, the Tomsk scientists have a chance to take its place on the world market.

 
 

«One of the goals of our team – make vermicultivation profitable business. Today, it is important in connection with import substitution, the rise of agriculture. Practice shows that if you add in the diet of pet protein increases the growth of young animals, milk yield in cattle. So breeding earthworms, if competently undertake it can have a positive effect on this industry as a meat and dairy farming, “- says Andrey Babenko.

 
 

Of course, the question arises: how harmless worms that consume lot of waste? How safe products made of them?

 
 

«We continuously analyze both raw materials and end product – protein flour, to make sure that the chemical and health indicators, they are normal. Our studies show that the waste accumulation of hazardous substances in the worms is not happening. This is due to the fact that we are preparing a compost mixture of non-contaminated materials. Generally, if engaged in the production of food products, the quality control of all ingredients should be at a high level “, – said the Tomsk scientists.