Entomocultura na produção de bio-insumos sustentáveis para agropecuária alagoana

Abstract

Entomculture emerges as a sustainable alternative to address global challenges of food security and environmental degradation, establishing itself as a new zootechnical culture with transformative potential for agriculture. This study aimed to evaluate the technical viability of bio-input production from insect farming, specifically the beetle Tenebrio molitor, identifying its zootechnical and agronomic potential. The research was conducted at the Laboratory of Ecology and Arthropod Behavior (LECOM) and the Laboratory of Animal Nutrition (LABNUTRI) at UFAL in Rio Largo- AL, employing a descriptive exploratory methodology with bromatological and physicochemical analyses. Three dietary treatments were established: T1 (100% wheat bran), T2 (75% wheat bran + 20% moringa) and T3 (80% wheat bran + 25% coffee). Results demonstrated significant differences among treatments for nitrogen in dry matter (p=0.0464), ether extract (p=0.0388), neutral detergent fiber (p=0.0009), and acid detergent fiber (p=0.0262). T2 showed the highest protein concentration (150.47% DM), while T1 displayed better digestibility. Physicochemical analysis of frass revealed high concentrations of organic matter (81.30%), nitrogen (3.28%), phosphorus (1.42%), and potassium (0.72%), characterizing it as a promising biofertilizer. Electrical conductivity increased proportionally with biocompost concentration (3.90 to 15.14 μS). It is concluded that entomculture represents a viable green technology for sustainable production of alternative animal protein and organic biofertilizers, aligning with circular economy principles by converting organic waste into high-value bio-inputs, contributing to reduced production costs and socioenvironmental impacts in Alagoas' agriculture.