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Percorrer EM - Artigos Científicos por Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS) "12:Produção e Consumo Sustentáveis"
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- Agronomic potential of Hermetia illucens frass in the cultivation of ryegrass in distinct soilsPublication . Rehan, I.; Lopes, I. G.; Murta, D.; Lidon, F.; Fareleira, P.; Esteves, C.; Moreira, O.; Menino, R.Cropping systems are strongly dependent on mineral fertilisers, which are effective in achieving high crop productivities. However, these chemical inputs end up compromising soil quality in the long-term. Frass from black soldier fly (BSF) larvae is a novel organic fertiliser that is rich in organic matter and advocated as a material that can sustain crop productivity while increasing soil quality. This study aimed at evaluating distinct fertilisation regimes in the cultivation of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. or annual ryegrass) in soils of different types (sandy, loamy and clay) and fertility levels. In a 7-month pot experiment conducted in a glass greenhouse, plants were cultivated with exclusive mineral (MT) or organic (OT) fertilisation, in addition to combinations between both (mineral and organic, MOTs) in different proportions (25:50; 50:50 and 75:25), considering a 140 kg per hectare N demand. Crop yield was favoured by the combination of organic and mineral fertilisers in all soils, which also had its fertility increased, especially regarding organic matter build-up and nutrient accumulation. In addition, the presence of frass in the sandy soil stimulated microbial activity, which was measured by the enzyme dehydrogenase. Frass derived from BSF larvae can be considered an adequate organic fertiliser in the cultivation of ryegrass in distinct soil types, when applied in partial (25% to 75%) replacement of mineral fertilisers, enabling high crop productivity and nutritional quality of the crop, while increasing soil fertility.
- Combining Hermetia illucens and Tenebrio molitor meals in diets for European seabass : effects on growth, nutrient utilisation, intestinal morphology and muscle qualityPublication . Costa, Rafaela S.; Basto, Ana; Monteiro, Marta; Pinho, Bia; Sá, Tiago; Santos, Marisa V.; Murta, Daniel; Schrama, Johan W.; Valente, Luisa M.P.This study explored the potential of an insect meal (IM) mixture of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and yellow mealworms (YMs) to substitute 3% (diet IM3), 25% (diet IM25) and 50% (diet IM50) of the fishmeal (FM) protein in a control diet (CTRL; 15% FM) for European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles. The four diets were isoproteic and isolipidic and were tested in triplicate in a recirculating aquaculture system with water at 22 °C and 35 ppt salinity, under a 12 h light/12 h dark photoperiod. After a 75-day feeding period, the fish growth performance, nutrient utilisation, intestinal morphology, muscle fatty acid profile and antioxidant capacity were evaluated. The diets containing IM ensured similar growth (DGI = 2.0) and feed efficiency (FCR = 1.0–1.1) to CTRL. Moreover, they promoted comparable nitrogen and energy retention efficiencies (38–40% and 44–47%). However, fish fed with the IM diets presented 20–27% lower faecal phosphorus losses than the control group. Anterior intestine integrity was maintained in all fish, but those fed IM50 displayed longer villi than the control. The muscle fatty acid profile of IM-fed fish also resembled that of the control, with 364–405 mg EPA + DHA per 100 g of fillet. IM25 and IM50 promoted higher lauric acid deposition in the muscle, and the muscle of fish fed with IM50 presented the highest oxygen radical absorbance capacity, suggesting higher antioxidant capacity. Overall, the study shows that the IM mixture can be an adequate protein source for seabass juveniles, also offering functional benefits.
- A comprehensive ecotoxicological evaluation of a treated olive mill wastewater and obtained sludgePublication . Pinto, José N.; Pereira, Andreia; Silva, Ana Rita. R.; Cardoso, Diogo N.; Mostafaie, Amid; Campos, Fábio; Rehan, Iryna; Moreira, Olga; Lopes, Ivã Guidini; Murta, Daniel; Afonso, Alexandra; Oliveira, Margarida; Silvério, Karina S.; Santos, Maria Teresa; Carvalho, Fátima; Almeida, Adelaide; Loureiro, SusanaOlive mill wastewaters (OMWWs) are an environmental problem in the Mediterranean region, and it is crucial to explore strategies for their treatment and repurposing. The chemical precipitation technique (CPT) has been presented as a cost-effective wastewater treatment solution that might be applied to OMWW. The CPT-resulting precipitant subproducts (sludge) may be reprocessed (e.g., agricultural fertilizer and/or soil amendment), while the treated wastewater may be repurposed or reused (e.g., irrigation, aquaponic, or industrial processes). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of CPT in treating wastewater from the olive oil industry from an ecotoxicological perspective. Additionally, to assess the safe use of the obtained sludge in CPT treatment, its effects on soil biota were assessed. For this, a set of ecotoxicological assays using freshwater (Raphidocelis subcapitata, Daphnia magna and Danio rerio), terrestrial invertebrates (Folsomia candida and Enchytraeus crypticus), and plants (Brassica oleracea and Lolium perenne) were used as model organisms. Results demonstrated that CPT reduced OMWW toxicity to freshwater organisms, offering a favorable outlook on CPT’s potential as a wastewater treatment method. Increasing application rates of sludge in soil reduced the shoot biomass and the hydric content of both plants compared to the control. Survival of F. candida and E. crypticus was not affected by sludge in soil at any tested application rate, yet sludge application negatively affected the reproduction of both species, even at relevant sludge application rates (2%) of sludge in soils. Overall, the applicability of this sludge obtained by the CPT treatment in soils should be carefully evaluated due to the observed adverse effects on soil biota. Although the results of CPT were promising in reducing the toxicity of OMWW for these aquatic species, some adjustments/improvements should be performed to improve this technique and use all the obtained resources (treated water and sludge) in a fully circular perspective.
- Development and benchmarking of sensing technologies for Tenebrio molitor dead pupae identificationPublication . Oliveira, Francisco; Tinoco, Vítor; Rodrigues, Leandro; Santos, Filipe N.; Cunha, Mário; Vieira, Inês; Santos, Marisa V.The production of insects for both human and animal consumption has seen an interest increase in recent years. Tenebrio molitor, a beetle species whose larval stage was considered by the European Commission safe for human consumption, represents a promising candidate for large-scale production. Efficient production of T. molitor requires the separation of its different metamorphic stages to optimize productivity and reduce cannibalism. Additionally, dead pupae must be removed to prevent contamination and ensure the healthy development of the remaining individuals. Currently, the identification of dead pupae relies primarily on visual inspection based on colour changes, as dead individuals tend to exhibit surface melanization. However, this method becomes inefficient in large-scale operations. This study presents a benchmark of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and thermal imaging as alternative sensing technologies for automated dead pupae identification. Hyperspectral data acquired in the near-infrared range (900–1700 nm) enabled accurate discrimination between dead and live pupae using both a PLS-DA and a Logistic Regression model, achieving F1-Scores above 90 % for both classes. Furthermore, key wavelengths (903 nm and 1259 nm) were identified and used to develop a normalized difference index (NDI) capable of distinguishing pupae health status using only two spectral bands. Thermal imaging revealed consistent temperature differences, with dead pupae presenting approximately 1–3 % lower temperatures than live pupae. The proven reliability and precision of the proposed sensing technologies validate their use in contributing to the development of scalable and reliable solutions for quality control in the insect farming industry.
- Exploring sustainable alternatives in aquaculture feeding : the role of insectsPublication . Fantatto, Rafaela Regina; Mota, Joana; Ligeiro, Carolina; Vieira, Inês; Guilgur, Leonardo Gaston; Santos, Marisa; Murta, DanielThe aquaculture sector faces uncertainty due to environmental changes, economic factors, and availability of food resources. Conventional aquatic feeds heavily depend on fishmeal. This results in sustainability challenges due to overexploitation of wild fish stocks, rising costs, and environmental impacts, which has driven the search for innovative and sustainable alternatives, such as insects. European Union legislation has evolved to allow the use of certain insect species in aquafeeds, favoring the market access and approval of additional species. However, regulations still need to be standardized across countries and the substrates approved for insect feed clearly defined, since the nutritional composition of insects depend on species and diet. These ingredients have high potential to replace fishmeal in aquatic feeds, although, present challenges regarding optimal growth and digestibility, specially due to the chitin in composition, that need to be overcome. However, chitin and its derivatives may also have positive effects in fish feeds as prebiotic and immunomodulator. These insect-based protein sources have several benefits, such as efficient nutrient utilization, short maturation periods, and profitability, addressing the economic and environmental challenges associated with conventional aquafeed ingredients. Scientific studies indicate that insects have the potential to improve flesh quality, strengthen the immune system, and reduce disease susceptibility in farmed fish, promoting sustainable and productive aquaculture systems. The integration of insects as alternative protein sources in aquatic feeds can offer a promising path towards sustainable and environmentally friendly aquaculture systems. Based on the research available for this topic, this review aimed to evaluate the real potential of using insect-based raw-materials in feeds for aquaculture and their effects on growth, feed utilization, immunological response, disease resistance, quality, and safety of fish.
- Exploring the potential of Hermetia illucens larvae extracts : a promising approach for dermocosmetic formulationsPublication . Filipe, Márcia Santos; Cardoso, Rossana V.C.; Ayuso, Manuel; Murta, Daniel; Díaz-Lanza, Ana María; Rosado, Catarina; Pires, Tânia C.S.P; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Rijo, PatriciaGlobally, the yearly disposal of 1.3 billion tonnes of food raises environmental and public health concerns. Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae present a sustainable solution, converting organic waste into nutrient-rich biomass. The extracted oil from BSF larvae, rich in fatty acids (FA), offers an eco-friendly alternative for the cosmetic industry. In this study, larvae sourced from a Portuguese company were fed olive pomace, a by-product of olive oil production. The lipidic sample extracted revealed a composition high in oleic acid, valuable for cosmetics. Investigating the biological activity of lipid extractions from larvae fed with olive pomace is a novel approach. Notably, the n-hexane ultrasound-assisted extraction method demonstrated potent antioxidant properties, and some extracts displayed antimicrobial activity. Five non-cytotoxic extracts; three with no relevant activity (IC50 from 236 to >400 μg/mL). These findings highlight BSF larvae as an environmentally friendly source of fatty acids, offering promising alternatives for diverse applications.
- First insights into macromolecular components analyses of an insect meal using hyperspectral imagingPublication . Silva, Flávia Matias Oliveira da; Fidalgo, Liliana G.; Inácio, Rita S.; Fantatto, Rafaela; Carvalho, Maria J.; Murta, Daniel; Pereira, Nuno S. A.The non-invasive nutritional analysis of feed through images captured by hyperspectral cameras represents an innovative and promising approach in the field of biotechnology. With this technology, it is possible to capture images at multiple wavelengths and identify unique spectral patterns associated with different molecular components, such as total fat and moisture. The technique is particularly valuable in biological environments, enabling a more detailed and comprehensive analysis of the presence and distribution of nutrients. The objective of this work was to perform a nutritional pre-characterization of Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly-BSF) larvae meal, using hyperspectral images in the range of 400–1000 nm, with a spectral resolution of 7 nm and a spatial sampling of 512 pixels, and correlate them to traditional chemical analysis methods. The results were also compared to wheat flour samples. The chemical results of BSF meal indicated 7.2% ± 0.05% (w/w) and 28.15% ± 0.15% (w/w) in moisture and total fat content, respectively. When compared to wheat flour, BSF meal contains less total fat and this difference was clearly identified in the spectra derived from the hyperspectral images, which underscores the efficiency and utility of multispectral cameras to conduct real-time and non-destructive analyses. Furthermore, this analysis can be extended to other components (e.g., protein content), increasing the potential of the technique for feed characterization.
- From waste to resource : performance of Black Soldier fly larvae reared on restaurant food waste at an industrial scalePublication . Oliveira, Joana; Ligeiro, Carolina; Fantatto, Rafaela; Souza, Clarice Silva e; Machado, Maria Ana; Guilgur, Leonardo Gaston; Trindade, Alexandre; Assunção, Ricardo; Murta, DanielFood waste poses significant environmental, economic and public health challenges. The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) represent a promising solution for organic waste valorisation, converting substrates into protein-rich biomass for animal feed and organic fertiliser. However, the use of food waste as an insect substrate remains prohibited in the European Union due to regulatory and safety concerns. This study evaluated the suitability of heterogeneous food waste for BSFL rearing under industrial conditions by comparing larval performance on a standard Gainesville diet (control) and a blend derived from local restaurant waste (test). The 14-day bioconversion assay assessed bioconversion rate (BCR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival rate, average growth rate, and nutritional composition. Compared with the control, the test group showed significantly improved (p < 0.001) BCR (18.34% vs. 11.02%), FCR (5.48 vs. 9.09 kg/kg), survival (69.29% vs. 51.30%), and growth (8.38 vs. 6.59 mg/day). Larvae reared on food waste also exhibited significantly higher protein (19.70% vs. 16.80%), fat (13.70% vs. 7.20%), ash (6.97% vs. 3.51%), carbohydrates (7.00% vs. 3.60%), and fibre (5.20% vs. 2.90%). Overall, heterogeneous food waste is a suitable substrate for BSFL, supporting agrifood sustainability; however, future research should focus on standardisation of these substrates.
- Genomic insights and bioconversion potential in the Black Soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) : current advances and future directionsPublication . Oliveira, Joana; Guilgur, Leonardo Gaston; Assunção, Ricardo; Murta, Daniel; Trindade, AlexandreThe global population continues to rise, placing increasing pressure on the agri-food sector and leading to the accelerated generation of urban organic waste, factors that collectively intensify climate stress and environmental instability. Insects are recognised for their remarkable capacity to transform substrates into valuable products, with the black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) emerging as one of the most efficient and widely utilised species for this purpose. Beyond recycling organic matter, BSFL can also mitigate microbial contamination, effectively reducing bacterial and fungal loads in waste substrates. Understanding and manipulating the genome could provide tools to improve BSFL bioconversion process and contribute to sustainability. In this review, we provide an overview of recent advances in black soldier fly genomics and genome-editing technologies. Although research in this subject remains limited, recent studies have clarified its origin, characterised its genome, and established the foundation for targeted genetic improvements to enhance by-product conversion, nutrient recovery, and environmental sustainability.
- Impact of five basic tastes perception on neurophysiological response : results from brain activityPublication . Pereira, Diana Rico; Pereira, Helena Rico; Silva, Maria Leonor; Pereira, Paula; Ferreira, Hugo AlexandreThe five basic tastes (sweet, salty, umami, sour, and bitter) perception plays a fundamental role in food choices. Nevertheless, how the perception of each basic tastes influence brain activity is still unknown. We investigated the effect of each taste on the brain activity of healthy adults using electroencephalography (EEG). For that, sucrose, sodium chloride, sodium glutamate, citric acid, and caffeine solutions were individually administered to 28 participants (18–25 years old). Self-reporting feedback was assessed using the 3-dimensional Self-Assessment-Manikin (SAM). The power density of the five frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma) computed from the EEG signals was used to compare the five basic tastes. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found for (1) beta waves: sweet vs umami, and salty vs umami; and for (2) gamma waves: sweet vs umami, and sweet vs bitter. The findings also indicate that sweet taste stimulated higher brain activity than umami in the gamma but not in the beta waves. Sweet, salty, umami and bitter tastes correlated with SAM responses. This study advances the understanding of brain response to taste stimuli, whilst improving the knowledge of these sensorial cognitive processes. Clinical trial Identifier: NCT06051175