Forage-Fed Insects as Food and Feed Source: Opportunities and Constraints of Edible Insects in the Tropics

Farmed insects can provide an alternative protein source for humans, livestock, and fish, while supporting adaptation to climate change, generating income for smallholder farmers, and reducing the negative impacts of conventional food production, especially in the tropics. However, the quantity, nutritional quality and safety of insects greatly relies on their feed intake. Tropical forages (grasses and legumes) can provide a valuable and yet untapped source of feed for several farmed insect species. In this perspective paper, we provide a viewpoint of how tropical forages can support edible insect production. We also highlight the potential of tropical forage-based diets over those using organic agricultural or urban by-product substrates, due to their versatility, low cost, and lower risk of microbial and chemical hazards. The main bottlenecks relate to dependence on the small number of farmed insect species, and in public policy and market frameworks regarding the use of edible insects as food, feed and in industrial processes. This perspective will serve interested stakeholders in identifying urgent issues at the research, ethical, marketing and policy levels that can prevent the emergence of new, insect-based value chains and business models, and the nutritional, economic and environmental benefits they promise.

50 years publishing on tropical forages - from Tropical Grasslands and Pasturas Tropicales to Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales

Preamble of the Volume 9, Issue 3

Fermentation characteristics and nutritive value of sweet sorghum silage with Paiaguas palisadegrass and Ipypora grass

Ensiling sorghum with tropical forages has been shown to be a promising alternative for ruminant feed production, as this approach improves the quality of the sorghum silage. In this context, the goal of this study was to evaluate the fermentation characteristics and nutritive value of sweet sorghum silage made with different levels of Paiaguas palisadegrass and Ipypora grass. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized 2 x 6 factorial design with four replications. Two forages (Paiaguas palisadegrass and Ipypora grass) were added to sorghum at six levels (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100%), for a total of 48 experimental silos. After 50 days of fermentation, the silos were opened, and the fermentation profile and chemical composition of the silage were analysed. The results showed that the addition of Paiaguas palisadegrass and Ipypora grass to the sorghum silage increased the pH, buffering capacity and NH3-NT of the silage and reduced its dry matter content but did not affect its fermentation characteristics, which remained within an appropriate range. The addition of increasing levels of Paiaguas palisadegrass and Ipypora grass to the sorghum silage increased the crude protein and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of the silage and decreased the fibre fraction (neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and lignin) and ether extract contents. Adding tropical forages to sorghum silage material at levels above 40% is recommended. Among forage crops, addition of Paiaguas palisadegrass to sorghum silage resulted in higher content of crude protein and IVDMD. Mixed silages can be an effective alternative to improve the quality of forage sorghum silage.

Digitaria eriantha (pangola grass).

D. eriantha is a perennial grass not considered as a serious weed in some countries, but a competitive and aggressive weed in others (PROTA, 2016; Tropical Forages, 2016; Weeds of Australia, 2016). The species is listed as invasive in Central America (Costa Rica), the Caribbean (Cuba), South America (Colombia, Ecuador) and Oceania (Australia, USA-Hawaii) (Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012; PIER, 2016). Catasús Guerra (2015), however, argues that the species should not be on the list of the invasive species for Cuba, due to lack of spread as it is being over-grazed and not producing viable seeds. It is on the list of the top 200 most invasive species in Queensland, Australia, forming dense populations in riparian areas, open woodlands and on some beaches (Weeds of Australia, 2016).

EFEITO DO AMBIENTE LUMINOSO EM FORRAGEIRAS DE CLIMA TROPICAL EM SISTEMAS SILVIPASTORIS

Alterações no ambiente luminoso provocam mudanças adaptativas nas plantas, na tentativa de manter o seu crescimento e desenvolvimento. Objetivou-se com esta revisão investigar e descrever o efeito do ambiente luminoso no crescimento e desenvolvimento de forrageiras de clima tropical em sistemas silvipastoris. A compreensão da influência do ambiente luminoso e, das mudanças biológicas que as diferentes intensidades do sombreamento podem causar nas forrageiras de clima tropical, possibilita fundamentar as alterações metabólicas das respostas das plantas na tentativa de se manterem persistentes em sistemas sombreados. A partir disso, entender quais são os níveis aceitáveis de radiação para que os sistemas de produção sombreados não entrem em colapso é fundamental para que tomadas de decisões sejam realizadas no tempo hábil do ciclo biológico das espécies vegetais. Em sistemas silvipastoris, a redução da luz incidente em forrageiras de clima tropical provoca alterações como aumento da área foliar específica, redução na densidade populacional de perfilhos e na relação raízes: parte aérea da planta. Cada espécie ou cultivar apresenta características adaptativas específicas ao sombreamento com a finalidade de aproveitar os recursos disponíveis em tecidos fotossintéticos e de suporte. No entanto, ainda assim o sombreamento intenso (>40%) afeta negativamente a produção forrageira de acordo com a variabilidade climática. Palavras-chave: adaptação morfofisiológica; fotossíntese; luz; plantas C4. EFFECT OF THE LIGHT ENVIRONMENT IN TROPICAL CLIMATE FORAGES IN SILVOPASTORAL SYSTEMS ABSTRACT: Changes in the light environment cause adaptive changes in plants, to maintain their growth and development. The aim of this review is to investigate and describe the light environment effect on the growth and development of tropical forages in silvopastoral systems. The understanding of the influence of the light environment and the biological changes that different shading intensities can cause in tropical forages, makes it possible to substantiate the metabolic alterations of plant responses to remain persistent in shaded systems. From this, understanding what are the acceptable levels of radiation so that the systems do not collapse is essential for decision-making to be carried out in a timely manner in the plant's biological cycle. In silvopastoral systems, a light incidence reduction on tropical forages causes changes such as an increase in the leaf area index, reduction in the tiller population density, and shoot: root ratio. Each species or cultivar has adaptive characteristics specific to shading to take advantage of the resources available in photosynthetic and support tissue. However, even so, the intense shading (> 40%) negatively affects forage production according to climatic variability. Keywords: morphophysiological adaptation; photosynthesis; light; C4 plants.