The E.U.-based COST project “CA23127 – Group on Insect Nutrition: To Open Nutritional Innovative Challenges (GIN-TONIC),” in which the MOLEN PI Dr. Umut Toprak was also involved, just started in Brussels. Dr. Umut attended the first meeting on October 14, 2024. The first meeting was very fruitful, and several assignments regarding the project operation were done. Dr. Umut will serve as a management committee member and also be involved in “WG1 – Comparative digestive physiology, microbiota, and feeding behavior” and “WG3 – Lipids, carbohydrates (energy ratios), and fat-soluble compounds such as sterols”.
The CA23127 aims to understand insects’ nutritional and dietary requirements, leading to decreased financial and environmental costs and increased yields. In this way, high-quality protein is produced, associated environmental impact decreases, and waste can be managed and valorized. The member countries of the project are the Netherlands (Main Proposer) and Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, Türkiye. Dr Dennis Oonincx (Wageningen University) leads the project.
