Investigating Small Scale Cricket Production

Student: Alex Curtze 

Major: Environmental Resource Management 

Semester: Fall 2016 

Project Supervisor: Leslie Pillen 

Funding: Student Farm 

SDG: 15 – Life on Land 

Concerned with GHG emissions and the agricultural uses of land to raise animals for consumption, Alex Curtze was inspired to find alternative, sustainable protein sources for Earth’s growing population. Although insect consumption is rare in the US, Alex’s background research into alternative food sources found that crickets were relatively inexpensive to raise, could be ground into flour and mixed with other plant-based foods high in protein (like nut butters) and sold as appealing value-added products such as protein bars or cookies. His research on cricket production for expanded Student Farm market opportunities was presented at the Sustainability Expo hosted by the Sustainability Institute.