Tenebrio molitor as a protein source for meat analogues development Authors Àlvar Gràcia Irina Elena Chiriac Cristina Fabregat Montse Jorba DOI: 10.2436/20.2005.01.143 Keywords: Tenebrio molitor, insect, alternative protein, meat analogues, circularity, sustainability, food industry, protein transition, food ingredients. Abstract This article presents the results of the GO DIIANA project, an initiative aiming to develop innovative food products based on Tenebrio molitor (TM) larvae, also known as mealworms, as a sustainable alternative to conventional animal-based protein sources. Carried out by Iberinsect, Zyrcular and Leitat, the project involved processing TM powder produced by Iberinsect by dehydration, defatting and protein hydrolysis techniques, with the goal of obtaining new ingredients with improved functional, sensory and nutritional properties. An enhanced TM powder was ultimately selected by a process involving partial defatting by pressing the larvae, followed by thermal dehydration, milling and sieving. This process improved the technological properties and nutritional profile of the TM powder (up to 65% w/w protein) while ensuring a sufficient production level for the development of new food products. These powders were analyzed in terms of composition (proximate analysis, amino acid profile, macronutrients and micronutrients, lipid profile), as well as microbiological safety and heavy metal content –the latter two to ensure food safety. Meat analogues (such as burgers, sausages and nuggets) were successfully developed with texture and sensory properties mimicking those of animal-based counterparts. Then, burger-type analogues were scaled up to a pre-industrial production level at the Zyrcular plant facility. This project demonstrates that Tenebrio molitor is a feasible option based on a circular production model and is nutritionally balanced and environmentally sustainable, despite some remaining challenges related to cultural acceptance and cost optimization. Downloads Download data is not yet available. Downloads PDF (Català) Published 2025-12-22 How to Cite Gràcia, Àlvar, Chiriac, I. E., Fabregat, C., & Jorba, M. (2025). <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> as a protein source for meat analogues development. TECA: Tecnologia I Ciència Dels Aliments, 17–28. Retrieved from https://revistes.iec.cat/index.php/TECA/article/view/156384 More Citation Formats ACM ACS APA ABNT Chicago Harvard IEEE MLA Turabian Vancouver Download Citation Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS) BibTeX Issue Vol. 24-25 (2025) Section Articles License The intellectual property of the articles belongs to the respective authors. 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