MSU co-leading new $2.2M NSF-funded Center for Environmental Sustainability through Insect Farming
Contact: Sarah Nicholas
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥旂哿κ悠碘攊n collaboration with two other U.S. universities and more than 30 industrial partners鈥攊s leading a $2.2 million National Science Foundation-funded initiative to explore the use of insects as food and feed in agriculture as a response to overpopulation, climate change and a shrinking food supply.
The Center for Environmental Sustainability through Insect Farming鈥攍ed at MSU by Heather R. Jordan, an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences鈥攊s funded by the NSF Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) to partner with business to advance the use of insects as a food source for animals and people.
Jordan serves as the MSU site director, assisted by Jonas King, co-PI for the site and an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology.
聽鈥淥ur goal with the Center is to partner academia with entrepreneurs to achieve global solutions for our growing population, while preserving natural resources,鈥 Jordan said. 鈥淭he Center will serve as a platform for multidisciplinary discovery and translational research associated with insect farming. Through these partnerships, new knowledge and technologies will fill critical scientific and industrial gaps that will drive innovation in this rapidly growing agriculture sector.鈥
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, traditional agriculture by 2050.
Jordan and her cohorts believe the use of insects in farming has the potential to reduce or eliminate organic waste because of the insect鈥檚 ability to convert agricultural byproducts into valuable protein, indicating a practical, economical and sustainable path for the production of high-value protein. The insect鈥檚 potential to eliminate agricultural waste also addresses issues related to climate change, environmental sustainability, socio-economic development and agriculture.
鈥淚nsects are one of nature鈥檚 recyclers,鈥 Jordan said.聽鈥淲e can harness this power in insects, together with friendly microbes, to turn food waste and other types of organic waste into an economic opportunity.聽This will not only provide a sustainable solution for food security and waste management but will also stimulate bioeconomy and aid in rural economic development.鈥
In the U.S., European Union and other countries, approval has been issued for the use of certain insect proteins in food, such as the black soldier fly for animals, and crickets and mealworms for people.
Jordan said the MSU site will investigate insect microbiomes to optimize and evaluate their nutritional utility and waste conversion by conducting experiments on probiotic supplementation.
鈥淢SU will also work with the other sites to integrate research focusing on genetics, insect biology and engineering and feed trials,鈥 Jordan said.
MSU is collaborating with researchers at Indiana University鈥揚urdue University Indianapolis, or IUPUI, and Texas A&M University, and partnering with 34 companies in the U.S. and abroad, including major suppliers such as Mars, Inc. and Tyson Foods, Inc., as well as insect farming pioneers , , and Inc.
Lead researchers at IUPUI are and . Additional partners are Jeffery Tomberlin and Del Gatlin of Texas A&M.
An NSF top 100 research university for nearly two decades, MSU has reported an increase in research and development expenditures for six consecutive years. MSU also holds the 鈥淰ery High Research Activity鈥 designation from the Carnegie Foundation, as well as the 鈥淚nnovation and Economic Prosperity University鈥 designation from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, recognizing MSU鈥檚 work to advance engagement and economic well-being. MSU ranks in the top 15 nationally in both agricultural sciences and social sciences.
Part of MSU鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences, more information about the Department of Biological Sciences is available at聽.
MSU is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at聽.