Insectloop: Microbes involved in the decomposition of rest-streams of insect production

Details
- Department
- Microbial Ecology
- Research group
- Wietse de Boer Group
- Funding
- NWO-ALW Gesloten Kringlopen
This is a sub-project of a WUR-NIOO project entitled "Closing the loop: exploiting sustainable insect production to improve soil, crop and animal health", coordinated by Prof. Marcel Dicke. Insects can transform waste streams into high-value proteins for food and feed. Consequently, insects provide valuable contributions to a circular economy. The project aims to investigate the valorisation of the rest-stream of insect production, i.e. moulting skins and faeces (‘frass’) to enhance soil health and crop health (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2022.01.007).
In the NIOO project, we study the decomposition rate of frass and moulting skins of three insects species (black soldier fly, mealworm, cricket) in arable soil as well as the composition of the fungal and bacterial decomposers. In addition, we study if the insect materials, which are rich in chitin, can be used to control soil-borne fungal plant diseases.
Details
- Department
- Microbial Ecology
- Research group
- Wietse de Boer Group
- Funding
- NWO-ALW Gesloten Kringlopen
Experts
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Maria Hundscheid
Research assistant , Microbial Ecology -
Eiko Kuramae
Senior Researcher , Microbial Ecology -
Azkia Nurfikari
PhD Candidate , Microbial Ecology -
Paulien klein Gunnewiek
Research assistant , Microbial Ecology