Open Access

REVIEW

A Review on Characteristics, Extraction Methods and Applications of Renewable Insect Protein

Adelya Khayrova^*, Sergey Lopatin, Valery Varlamov

Research Centre of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119071, Russia

* Corresponding Author: Adelya Khayrova. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Special Issue in Celebration of JRM 10 Years)

Journal of Renewable Materials 2024, 12(5), 923-950. https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2024.050033

Received 25 January 2024; Accepted 18 April 2024; Issue published 17 July 2024

Abstract

Due to the expected rise in the world population, an increase in the requirements for quality and safety of food and feed is expected, which leads to the growing demand for new sources of sustainable and renewable protein. Insect protein is gaining importance as a renewable material for several reasons, reflecting its potential contributions to sustainability, resource efficiency, and environmental conservation. Some insect species are known to be able to efficiently convert organic waste into high-value products such as protein, requiring less land and water compared to traditional livestock. In addition, insect farming produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to mitigating climate change. Insects are considered as a major potential alternative to animal or plant protein due to their many nutritional benefits, including high protein, mineral, and vitamin contents. On average, the protein content of insects ranges between 35% and 60% dry weight, which exceeds plant protein sources, such as cereal, soybeans, and lentils. As the acceptance of insect protein grows and technologies advance, the food and feed industries continue to explore and expand their applications, offering consumers diverse and sustainable protein choices. In this review, we discuss the recent findings relating to insect protein focusing on its characteristics, extraction methods, applications, and opportunities along with some trade-offs and uncertainties.

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