Utilisation of Insect Gut as a Biosource for the Development of Future Biotransformation Processes : Converting wastes, organic materials and residues into valuable products

Abstract

Sustainability has been one of the main issues in the world in recent years. The decrease of resources in the world, along with the growing world population and the resulting environmental waste, present a fairly significant problem. As an alternative solution to this problem, insects are put forward as an ideal resource. Due to the enzymes and microorganisms in their intestinal microbiota, the biotransformation processes of insects are capable of converting wastes, organic materials and residues into valuable products that can be used for various industrial applications such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and functional foods. Some species of insects are in an advantageous position because of the simplicity of their lifecycle, the ease of their production and their ability to feed on organic materials to make valuable products. From a sustainability perspective, utilisation of the microorganisms or enzymes isolated from these microorganisms available in the microbiota of insects may allow novel insect-based biotransformation processes that promise a more sustainable world and novel green technologies.