A research group led by Assistant Professor Ryohei Kanbara of the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Hirosaki University has started joint research with a wholesaler in Aomori Prefecture, Motoki Shoten, on the cultivation business of edible tonosamabatta and its application to food and livestock feed. After two years of joint research, we aim to make migratory locust a new ingredient from Aomori.
According to Hirosaki University, the joint research started after Motoki Shoten applied for and was adopted by the 21 Aomori Industrial Comprehensive Support Center for the 2022 Aomori Prefecture Strategic Manufacturing Advanced Technology Commercialization Support Project Subsidy.
During the two years of the research period, we will study how to mass-cultivate Tonosamabatta in cold regions of Aomori Prefecture and how to apply it to food and livestock feed as a new ingredient.
Global food shortages are a concern due to climate change associated with warming and population explosions in developing countries centered on Africa.Insects are attracting attention as future food because they generate less greenhouse gases and have higher nutritional value than livestock such as cattle and chickens. In November 2021, it was certified as a food product in Europe.
Hirosaki University and Motoki Shoten have noticed Migratory locust as an entity that produces new food while controlling global warming.
Entomophagy has been practiced in various parts of Japan for a long time, and locusts and bee larvae have become traditional foods in the region.Recently, the commercialization of crickets has become a bit of a boom, and nearly 30 companies have entered the business.
