Valorization of Carob and Brewer’s Spent Grain as Growth-Substrate Supplements in <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Rearing
2025
Irene Ferri | Matilda Rachele Dametti | Sara Frazzini | Matteo Dell’Anno | Luciana Rossi
Background: Agro-industrial by-products, such as carob and brewer’s spent grain (BSG), have gained increasing attention as sustainable feed ingredients capable of enhancing the nutritional and functional value of <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> larvae. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of carob and BSG supplementation of growth substrates on larval performance and the functional properties of the resulting insect meals. Methods: Seven-week-old larvae were reared for 14 days on the following three diets: control (wheat bran), wheat bran + carob (Trt1), and wheat bran + BSG (Trt2). Larval weight, substrate consumption, and survival were recorded. After processing, insect meals were analyzed for chemical composition, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity in both water- and lipid-soluble extracted fractions. Results: Both treatment groups showed significantly higher final weights than the control (Ctrl: 104.9 ± 2.69 g; Trt1: 114.8 ± 1.26 g; Trt2: 116.9 ± 1.07 g; <i>p</i> < 0.05). TPC was highest in the control for both fractions, and the antioxidant activity was similar between the Ctrl and Trt1 groups in the water-soluble fraction but significantly lower in the Trt2 group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of carob and BSG for sustainable insect farming, though their functional benefits may depend on the inclusion levels and their interaction with insect metabolism.
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