Wastewater sludges as novel growth substrates for rearing codling moth larvae

Termite's potential in solid waste management in Himachal Pradesh: A mini review

One of the major reasons for the degradation of Earth's setting is inappropriate disposal of solid waste. Mountains of solid waste are increasing in every country making solid waste management a challenge almost everywhere on Earth. It is vital to look for such municipal solid waste management solutions that are financially sustainable, technically possible, socially and legally acceptable and environmentally friendly. Currently vermicomposting is the only biological solid waste treatment process that uses multicellular organisms to biodegrade organic wastes. A few species of insects are capable of digesting lignin and cellulose. Of these, termites are the most numerous and play a decisive role as scavengers. Microflora which inhabit the termites' gut contribute to their waste degrading potential. Termites act as major soil ecosystem managers and are able to breakdown and recycle organic matter and composite. Although studies in the potential of termites to increase soil fertility are well-accounted for in the literature, the potential of termites for solid waste management still needs to be explored. This mini review presents the state of information on the use of termite species in solid waste degradation focused on the potential application in the Himachal Pradesh region, India. This review highlights different termite species found in Himachal Pradesh and the challenges that are needed to be conquered. The study also aims at encouraging competent authorities/researchers to work towards the improvement of the present system by further exploring the use of termites in solid waste management through suggestions and recommendations.

Potential of insects as food and feed in assuring food security

With a growing world population and increasingly demanding consumers, the production of sufficient protein from livestock, poultry, and fish represents a serious challenge for the future. Approximately 1,900 insect species are eaten worldwide, mainly in developing countries. They constitute quality food and feed, have high feed conversion ratios, and emit low levels of greenhouse gases. Some insect species can be grown on organic side streams, reducing environmental contamination and transforming waste into high-protein feed that can replace increasingly more expensive compound feed ingredients, such as fish meal. This requires the development of cost-effective, automated mass-rearing facilities that provide a reliable, stable, and safe product. In the tropics, sustainable harvesting needs to be assured and rearing practices promoted, and in general, the food resource needs to be revalorized. In the Western world, consumer acceptability will relate to pricing, perceived environmental benefits, and the development of tasty insect-derived protein products.