Project update!!!

 Hey buggy people!

    Today we want to talk about project updates. In the last post we explained the project survey that we sent out and we finally concluded that and  have results. We had a total of 166 survey responses at the time of data analysis and the data will be explained in a post by itself. 

Our mealworm population was harvested and left to freeze for a couple weeks before we turn them into a flour product that ca be used for consumption. After harvesting the mealworms we were able to inspect the larvae and beetle populations. Currently we have 80 beetles that will soon be reproducing in order to continue a breed/harvest cycle. 

One fun thing we have done in hopes of destigmatizing entomophagy is hand out samples during  AG WEEK! We bought FDA approved cricket flour and made chocolate chip cricket flour cookies. The flour is available on Amazon if that is something that is of interest. We feel it is safe to say our cricket cookies were a hit! 100% GONE! 

Project data and student research conference information will be available in the next publication 

As always..... STAY BUGGY🐛🐛🐛🐛

Lets talk project updates and presentations

Hey BUGGY PEOPLE!!!

Today I want to talk about presentations. 

So far we have had the opportunity to present to 3 clubs on campus, ECO, Save the Bees, and The Wildlife Association, as well as one freshmen level course AG 100. 

These presentations include a brief precursor survey for participants to gage current thoughts and feelings on entomophagy and assessing backgrounds of participants. Following this we presented our slide show about entomophagy, its benefits, the state of the future of agriculture, and our current process of raising mealworms. After we concluded the participants took a post survey to say if their ideas or feelings had changed any or not towards introducing insects into an everyday diet. 

The same survey was sent out school wide to Truman State University students and staff. We currently have over 100 participants. 

The results and further updates will be coming to the blog at a later date!!! 

As for our little mealy friends we've had to make some housing changes and adjustments. 

Mealworms should ideally have housing that is ~80 degrees F and 70% humid to live their best mealyworm life. In order to achieve this we have added moist paper towels sprayed with DI water (distilled) as well as spraying the sides of their tub. This, as well as being placed and a warm greenhouse environment has allowed us to get the humidity levels to a desired percentage. 

It has also come time to pick out pupae from the mealworms. 

Now, the pupae are the final stage of growth before becoming the full grown adult Darkling Beetle. 

In comparison to mealworms they are stouter and milky white . They also do not eat or defecate during this stage. Their soul purpose, growth. 

We currently have 42 pupae and 10 beetles. 

We are now waiting for the ideal time and population to begin harvesting mealworms to be turned into flour and later.....COOKIES!!!!

Stayed tuned for more updates and as always,

STAY BUGGY🐛🐛🐛🐛🐛🐛

FBLA and more info

 Hey buggy people!!!

We had the opportunity to present our project to the high school FBLA contestants in Kirksville. We had two time slots to present toa total of 20 kids. This was a great opportunity to practice and get some entomophagous info out there. 

Some new additional information we want to share is this link to a source to learn more about entomophagy and its relationship to the sustainable future. 

STAY BUGGY!!

Edible insects: Future prospects for food and feed security https://www.fao.org/3/i3253 e/i3253e.pdf

Project updates and NEMO AG SHOW!

 Boy Howdy do we have a long update today!!

First off......THE MEALWORMS ARE IN. I REPEAT. THE MeAlWoRmS ARE IN!!! 

We successfully got all of our supplies and began constructing the living quarters for the mealworms. These structure is a three tiered shelf with drawers. The top drawer is dedicated to the Darkling Beetle, aka the adult. The bottom of this drawer is decked out in mesh liner so that all the fertilized eggs drop through the holes to the second shelf where they can incubate in peace. After the incubation period and the production of the larvae, the mealworms will be scooped out and placed int he third tier. Each drawer is housed with grain substrate for living and consuming as well as potatoes for food. We also constructed our model system (same as described above but miniature) for events like the NEMO AG SHOW which we attended over the weekend!

THE NEMO AG SHOW!! Our group took and presented our miniature model tier system at the show. There were no mealworms present but we compromised and used fake bugs :) We got the opportunity to talk to the public about both raising mealworms and their opinions on eating bugs whether that be for fun or for a dietary supplement. Safe to say we got mixed feedback BUT ALL FEEDBACK IS GOOD FEEDBACK during this project! Simply being able to hear opinions about entomophagy is the starting point to education and later to change. 

We are so excited to get the mealworm rolling on this project and surveys will be out soon to determine the likelihood of incorporating entomophagy into daily lives of students and faculty/ staff at Truman State University. 

Stick around for more updates and as always.........STAY BUGGY!!!🐛🐛🐛🐛🐛

Let's Talk Goals AND Project Updates

Kickstarting any project is good with a strong set of achievable goals. For us, these goals are attendance and accountability as well as reaching 150 people with our surveys and in-person discussions. These goals are a good way for us to follow up with each other and to hold each other accountable! 

In addition to setting objectives, we have officially begun. The required materials for our project, such as oats, plastic bins, lights, cleaning fluids, brooms, etc. have been ordered and once they arrive it is go time! As soon as the products arrive we will be updating our Instagram (@THE.BUGFARMERS) and blog appropriately. 

Stay Buggy!

Stigma? Why? What even is that?

˙Welcome back to another semester of fun and bugs!!!!! Here soon we will begin the adventures of raising the mealworms and learning about that process first-hand. And don't worry, any and all updates will be added here for leisure reading or insightful tips and tricks (do's and definitely some don'ts). 

So we've introduced entomophagy and where its common. But lets talk about stigma. 

A stigma is defined as "a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person" 

                    Thanks google :)

So in this instance, the stigma, or disgrace associated with eating insects. Where did that come from?

According to TheConversation.com, there is an "ick-factor" that plays a significant role. Bugs are seen in the ground and squashed and scaly and yucky, why would we want to put that into our bodies????? Well this idea that bugs are dirty or gross is a main contributor to their lack of consumption. Makes sense. I mean I don't go around eating food that's fallen onto the ground and covered in dirt, much less a living creatures that LIVES its entire life in the dirt! Crazy concept. BUT. There are so many benefits within the genetic structure of insects that could not only be healthy for humans but could aid in the suppression of climate change and over-harvesting and bad eating habits. 

What mainly keeps you from eating bugs? Could your mind be changed?

This year, my team and I will be asking fellow humans this question and see if minds can be changed. Or at least, if knowledge can be shared!!

Thanks and we'll catch up soon!

Stay Buggy!

Entomophagy! What's the deal?

 Entomophagy is described as " the act of eating insects, especially by people".  Now, its easy to think, why would anyone want tot do that? The last time I even thought about EATING a bug was in the fourth grade when my friend dared me to eat a worm. But what if its really not that crazy??💥💥💥💥?? Actually, in other countries across the globe, villages and tribes cook, prepare, or just catch and dig up these little critters and eat them! Breakfast. Brunch. Lunch. Linner. Dinner. 

Some specific buggy meals are Mod daeng, or weaver ants of Thailand. 

Or. Chicatanas, large flying ants in Mexico. 

(Info curtesy of tasteatlas.com 😁)

There are soooo many benefits to eating insects too!

First and foremost, in my most humble opinion, is the not so catastrophic effect eating and insects has on the environment! Because bugs come in many large numbers (not so fun when its a swarm of angry hornets right?) they can be produced in large quantities with way less amounts of resources used! Now, who doesn't LOVE a bargain????? I do. Another reason bugs are good to consume is because they have many health benefits. Like antimicrobials and antioxidants. They're not just empty calories. And best of all! Their protein is off the charts! 

Bugs in general contain more protein. If a beef steak and a cricket steak weighed the same, the cricket steak would contain roughly 2-3 times more protein.......along with iron and fiber. (naakbar.com)

All in all. Maybe eating that worm wouldn't have been such a bad idea😅

Tune in tomorrow for..............

Stigma, what is it and what does it want?

How are we, the BUG FARMERS, going to breakdown the Western stigma of eating bugs!!!