Science & Technology

         Alternative food sources – food derived from less typical sources – have become one intriguing area to dig into since it also has the power to ensure humans’ food security. Sago palm weevil larvae, a worm-like insect with a nutty taste and scrumptious look have been brought to attention to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Worawan Panpipat, Walailak University’s food scientist, not only because of its deliciousness but rather its misleading look – looking scrumptious with nothing good for health inside. The mission of her team is to turn that around.

         Assoc. Prof. Dr. Worawan Panpipat, Lecturer of the School of Food Science, Walailak University, winner of the Gold CB Award of Walailak University, and a food scientist specializing in functional ingredients embarked on the mission to reconstruct a nutritional mapping of sago palm weevil larvae. In fact, it is the process of twisting the moving sack-like beetles full of unwholesome oil detrimental to health to ones proved commercially profitable and nutritionally useable. It all starts with feeding them the right type of food – the food formula for sago palm weevil larvae keeping them plump and nutritious altogether.

        The search for the development of the food formula starts rolling in response to a struggle sago palms farmers are facing. The problem is concerned with a misleading look of the sago weevil larvae – tending to look scrumptious with lots of oil, however, lacking in nutrition and tipping up the scale of unhealthy fats in the body. Also, it was found that sago weevil larvae contain lower amounts of essential amino acids than the protein standard prescribed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, not to mention that no omega-6/omega-3 fatty acids are found.

        To turn this around, Associate Prof. Dr. Worawan, as Head of the Center of Excellence in Food Technology and Innovation revealed that her team consisting of Ms. Kanitha Jinarak, Associate Prof. Dr. Manat Chaichan, and Assistant Prof. Dr. Pijug Summpunn, the Center of Excellence in Technology joined in the study to investigate the nutritional values of Sago palm (Sago palm weevil larvae) raised in a farm system in three southern provinces including Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Yala.

      What is interesting about the sago palm larvae is that they seem to contain fat and protein as the main constituents, with 52.4-60.1 % fat and 18.0-28.5 % protein. Therefore, considering both the amount of oil contained in one larva and its commercial potential as supplementary, the team set out for two key outcomes, 1) plumping up farm-raised sago palm weevil larvae and 2) boosting 9 promising nutrients, and Omega 3 and Omega 6.

      “Besides appealing to the industrial manufacture of supplementary food, the food formula also consistently nurtures the larvae into scrumptious ones which the farmers can sell at a good price,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Worawan. Currently, the formula developed is being registered for a patent, which shall be followed by broader knowledge dissemination.

      After feeding the larvae with the newly developed formula, they grow larger in size and heavier compared to when fed with traditional food formula. As a result, the growth period is shortened by 10 days. Regarding the nutritional value, the sago larvae become significantly rich in essentials as well.  

The level of a high-quality protein surged to 40-92% which occurs in relation to a rise of all 9 essential amino acids and a 12-48% increase in the number of essential amino acids compared to the protein standard set by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) the United Nations. In addition, the essential amino acid was also 1-1.5 times higher than the protein reference by the FAO. The amount of Omega 3 went 1.24 times higher than that of the fish oil. Healthy fat Sago larvae raised by the new diet formula are also rich in minerals, including potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, calcium, and zinc, in the amount higher than those found in chicken eggs.”

      Associate Professor Dr. Worawan concluded that the research has projected the commercial viability of sago larvae to provide an alternative quality- food option in the future. This results in the establishment of occupational stability for southern farmers. In this regard, the research team would like to thank for research funding from the Research Development and Research for Industrial Project at the doctoral level.

News by Nootchanat Sukkaew 

Division of Corporate Communication