Biostimulants based on insect protein hydrolysate and products derived from its processing

• Grant number: 23/08784-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: Lais Dal Pogetto
• Grantee: Lais Dal Pogetto
• Company: Buzz Fly P&D em Alimentação Animal S/A
• CNAE: Pesquisa e desenvolvimento experimental em ciências físicas e naturais
• Associated researchers: Paulo Mazzafera
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/10248-7 - Analysis and R&D focused on the final stage of the life of BSFL, production activities, processing of final products and supporting biostimulant evaluation tests in the greenhouse and shelf-life, addition of nutrients and product stability., BP.TT; 24/13056-9 - Analysis and Research & Development focused on the initial stage of the life of BSFL (Black Soldier Fly Larvae), BP.TT; 24/06877-6 - Analysis and R&D focused on the final stage of the life of BSFL, production activities, processing of final products and supporting biostimulant evaluation tests in the greenhouse and shelf-life, addition of nutrients and product stability., BP.TT; 24/01256-3 - Biostimulants based on insect protein hydrolisate and products derived from its processing, BP.PIPE

Abstract

Biostimulants are products of organic and inorganic origin, but which are not hormones or nutrients, and which increase the agronomic efficiency of plants. The best known are algae-based products. HP may have biostimulant activity, but the protein sources on the market are very varied, leading to uncertainty in the agronomic response. There are also problems with hydrolysis methods, and most HPs are total hydrolysis, containing almost entirely free amino acids. However, it is well known that plants produce dozens of small peptides (~20 amino acids) that have hormonal or cell signaling activity. Therefore, the incomplete hydrolysis of proteins can generate, in addition to free amino acids, peptides that will mimic natural peptides and cause desired responses. Thus, the production of an HP must prioritize the quality and stability of the protein, and the hydrolysis process. Controlled breeding insects can bring the desired protein stability. Compared to biostimulants (BS) with seaweed extracts, protein hydrolysates (HP) are a small share in the market. In part, this is because the main source of protein is the residue of the leather and fishing industry, with a very large variation in the composition of the products, which leads to non-reproducible responses when applied in agriculture and makes the products not so reliable. , from the point of view of use. That is, hydrolysis is still poorly controlled and often performed by direct fermentation of waste. This proposal aims to produce an HP based on proteins from the Hermetia illucens fly known as - Black Soldier Fly ("BSF"), which gives the farmer security in obtaining greater productivity. With no similar on the market, this proposal seeks a product with reproducible response, through the use of protein and by-products of the H. illucens, whose controlled breeding allows uniformity in the quality of the protein. The proposal also foresees the development of BS from the dehydrated insect and the carcass obtained from oil extraction, which is rich in chitin, which is known to induce plant growth. (AU)