Livestock production causes environmental damage and plant-based alternative products do not contain adequate amounts of all essential amino acids and can contain anti-nutritional compounds that reduce protein bioavailability. The rapid global growth means animal and plant food sources cannot feed the population in the near future. Development of new, improved, environmentally friendly foods with reduced environmental footprints is essential Thus, dairy alternavies to be developed from plant-based milks using edible insect powders (proteins) could be a sustainable novel food for the future.

In this context, our team could provide contribution as a partner in the consurtium in a project addressing Topic 2 with our experience on product development from dairy alternatives, and providing insect powder using agri-food by-products in insect diets. Our laboratory facility is well suited for organizing such new projects. We are looking for collaborative projects focused on insect-based dairy alternatives, enhancing sustainability and innovative solutions.

Ege University, established in 1955, as Turkey’s fourth, and the region’s first and the oldest university, has adopted the principles of contributing to the scientific world in a universal scale by producing knowledge rich in quantity and quality, educating productive individuals and culturally well-equipped researchers who are conscious about local and global facts, and creating a higher added value with its regional strength by prioritising social benefit. Besides its internationally acknowledged quality education, and the theoretical and practical research activities, with its unique model to bring the university together with industry, state, research and development, innovation, entrepreneurship, and information and knowledge transfer issues, Ege University is a pioneer representative of Fourth Generation University Concept.

Faculty of Agriculture, which started its educational activities on November 1955, is one of the oldest two faculties of the Ege University. According to the 2023 world university field ranking of the world's respected university rating agency, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), our university was ranked 1st in Turkey and in the 200-250 band in the world in the field of "Agriculture and Forestry. In addition, our Faculty has succeeded in becoming the first and only Faculty of Agriculture to be accredited with 10 departments among 47 institutions providing Agricultural Engineering and Agricultural Sciences education in Turkey.