Innovative and economic potential of locusts in the system of circular economy

In today's environment, locust population control is viewed not only as a means of protecting agriculture but also as a strategically important source of an economically valuable resource. The aim of this article is to assess the potential of locusts as a bioresource for various industrial sectors and to substantiate their role as a sustainable and an effective alternative to traditional methods of population management. The methods include qualitative analysis to substantiate the relevance and identify trends in the use of representatives of the Acrididae family (Acridae), quantitative – to compare the costs of protein production from various types of raw materials, systematic – to study the economic and environmental aspects of the bioconversion of acrid, computational–analytical – to assess the effectiveness of the combined insect farm project and abstract-logical – to formulate conclusions and substantiation of the directions of further advancement of the object under study. The scientific novelty consists in the development of a circular model of bioconversion of wild and cultivated locusts into innovative products through the scaling of production, combined insect farms, feed mills and agro-processors. The practical significance manifests itself in the possibility of implementing this model through state support, improvement of the regulatory framework on the topic under study, certification, standardization, as well as research and information and educational support for producers. This contributes to the diversification of agricultural producers' income and the strengthening of local production chains. The proposed layout is focused on improving resource efficiency, minimizing agro-ecological risks, and expanding the range of entomological products. It stimulates the development of resource-saving and modern technologies, as well as creates conditions for implementing a set of marketing activities that promote highvalue-added products in the domestic market and strengthen export potential.

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