Process approach to organization of wild processing business

The study examines the organization of a new business for the harvesting and processing of wild plants based on the development of traditional industries, trades and crafts of rural residents. As process solutions, a block of design justifications is presented, aimed at developing practical measures on the stated topic. In particular, the emphasis is placed on the economic justification and social significance when organizing a business for processing wild plants. In the substantive part of the study, a model for calculating capital investments is presented; sources of financing for a business project are indicated. Separately, it is worth highlighting the element of practical implementation, including the technical modernization of the production process of processing raw materials, namely, the improvement of the technological process through the use of microwave vacuum drying technology. The calculation of the need for personnel is performed; the possible qualification requirements for employees are indicated. The research of the market of similar products based on information search was carried out. An overview of the average retail prices is made according to the Internet portal “Russian agro-industrial server Agroserver.ru”, on the basis of which the forecasted amounts of proceeds from sales and the expected profit from organizing a business for processing wild plants are calculated. Significant expected results are: an increase in the standard of living of the population collecting and harvesting wild plants; providing employment in rural areas; saturation of the market with products of wild plants; strengthening of competitive positions; saturation of the market with locally produced products; increasing the profitability of regional and local budgets. It is assumed that at the initial stage, the manufactured products will be sold mainly in the region. The sale will be carried out through trade networks, as well as in markets, stationary retail outlets, fairs, exhibitions, the main consumers of the products will be the population of the Kemerovo region.

Energy consumption, physical properties, protein structure and digestibility of edible insects dried using three methods

This study evaluated the effects of three drying techniques, tray drying, roasting and microwave vacuum drying, on the physical properties, secondary structures, in vitro protein digestibility and X-ray tomographic structure of crickets (Acheta domesticus) and mulberry silkworm pupae (Bombyx mori L.). The protein contents of dried crickets and silkworm pupae were 49-54% and 51-53% (dry basis), respectively. Roasting produced a significantly higher browning index than the other two methods for crickets and silkworm pupae. The microwave vacuum-dried crickets exhibited the lowest hardness, with hardness values of approximately half those of the tray-dried and roasted crickets. Tray-drying and microwave vacuum drying silkworm pupae produced similar hardness values, which were lower than that of roasted silkworm pupae. The energy consumption of the tray dryer was the lowest, followed by the roaster and microwave vacuum dryer. No significant changes in the secondary protein structure of dried silkworm pupae were observed. A significant decrease in α-helix and β-turn and increase in β-sheet was observed in roasted crickets. Cricket and silkworm pupae powders produced from all drying techniques could be easily digested (90-95% digestibility). This work presents valuable knowledge for understanding the effects of different drying techniques on the properties of dried edible insects, aiming to support the production of alternative and sustainable protein sources for the growing population to improve food security.