Crickethub: Advanced technology for the integral improvement of the breeding and nutritional value of domestic crickets (Gryllus AFF. Assimilis) within closed environments in the Ecuadorian Sierra

The growing world demand from alternative protein sources has promoted the exploration of edible insects as a sustainable solution. Domestic crickets (Gryllus AFF. Assimilis) are presented as a viable option due to their high nutritional value and low environmental impact. However, mass production of crickets and other edible insects, faces significant technological challenges. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlights the need to investigate technologies for mass production, evaluate the life cycle of insects and expand data on their nutritional value. The "Crickethub: Advanced technology for the integral improvement of the breeding and nutritional value of domestic crickets (Gryllus AFF. Assimilis) within closed environments in the Ecuadorian Sierra" addresses these technological challenges. Its main objective is to develop a technified cricket raising system that optimizes biomass production and improves its nutritional composition. This project will be developed in collaboration with the Salesian Polytechnic University, the Indoamerica Technological University and the University of Cuenca with a duration of 12 months. During the first 12 weeks, experimental hatcheries and automated monitoring and control system will be designed and built. Subsequently, three types of controlled experiments will be carried out to evaluate food, population density and multiple environmental factors. Each experiment will be repeated twice, with rounds of 8 weeks each. Additionally, the technical and economic viability of the system will be evaluated through a cost-benefit analysis and sustainability projections. A sustainable business model for the commercialization of cricket biomass and its derivatives will be proposed. The expected project results include an increase in biomass production, an improvement in the nutritional composition of the crickets and the validation of a technified breeding system. These results will contribute to solving problems such as the need for alternative protein sources, the efficiency in the use of resources and in the production of edible insect biomass. The methodological process that the project will follow will provide scientific data and examples of practical applications that can facilitate the adoption of cricket biomass or its derivatives in the market, closing the gap between business knowledge and consumer perception. For the transfer of the results, scientific and technical publications will be carried out, will participate in conferences and workshops, and technical reports and methodological guides will be developed, ensuring that the knowledge generated is widely disseminated and is implemented in various industrial and academic applications.

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