DEVELOPING PRE-CONSUMER WASTE AS LOW-COST CRICKET FEED FOR SMALL FARMING OPERATIONS

The goal of this research is to produce market-competitive cricket protein as a sustainable protein source to combat food shortages due to climate change and shrinking natural resources.Objective #1: Divert nutrients from landfills by identifying pre-consumer waste as potential cricket feed through partnerships with local manufacturers.Success criterion: Securing waste within a 30 mile radius around the farm totaling 3125 lbs feed per week. Identifying pesticide-free waste that contain the essential nutrients crickets need to grow.Objective #2: Formulate a cricket feed from waste streams with a FCR of 1.5.Success Criterion: The cost of producing the cricket feed--with an FCR of 1.5:1--is less than the cost of market-available feed ($0.64/lb).