Location: Biological Control of Pests Research
Project Number: 6066-42000-007-007-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Oct 13, 2024
End Date: Oct 12, 2029
Objective:
ARS and Cooperator will seek to determine which insects in insect farming for food and feed are most suitable for rearing on pre-consumer agricultural waste streams that are contaminated with mycotoxins. The metabolic pathways, microbial contributors, and genetic scaffolding will be determined for potential patentable technology.
Approach:
Insects will be reared on diets treated with purified toxins and diets with field contaminated grains. Mortality, development, and fecundity will be measured. Mycotoxins and metabolites will be quantified at various life stages. Genetic and microbial dependencies for metabolism will be identified.
