Neural Network for AI-Driven Prediction of Larval Protein Yield: Establishing the Protein Conversion Index (PCI) for Sustainable Insect Farming

Claudia L. Vargas-Serna (), Angie N. Pineda-Osorio, Carlos A. Gomez-Velasco, Jose Luis Plaza-Dorado and Claudia I. Ochoa-Martinez
Additional contact information
Claudia L. Vargas-Serna: Escuela de Ingeniería de Alimentos, Universidad del Valle, Cali 760001, Colombia
Angie N. Pineda-Osorio: Escuela de Ingeniería de Alimentos, Universidad del Valle, Cali 760001, Colombia
Carlos A. Gomez-Velasco: Escuela de Ingeniería de Alimentos, Universidad del Valle, Cali 760001, Colombia
Jose Luis Plaza-Dorado: Escuela de Ingeniería de Alimentos, Universidad del Valle, Cali 760001, Colombia
Claudia I. Ochoa-Martinez: Escuela de Ingeniería de Alimentos, Universidad del Valle, Cali 760001, Colombia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-16

Abstract: The predictive capabilities of artificial intelligence for predicting protein yield from larval biomass present valuable advancements for sustainable insect farming, an increasingly relevant alternative protein source. This study develops a neural network model to predict protein conversion efficiency based on the nutritional composition of larval feed. The model utilizes a structured two-layer neural network with four neurons in each hidden layer and one output neuron, employing logistic sigmoid functions in the hidden layers and a linear function in the output layer. Training is performed via Bayesian regularization backpropagation to minimize mean squared error, resulting in a high regression coefficient (R = 0.9973) and a low mean-squared error (MSE = 0.0072401), confirming the precision of the model in estimating protein yields. This AI-driven approach serves as a robust tool for predicting larval protein yields, enhancing resource efficiency and promoting sustainability in insect-based protein production.

Keywords: neural networks; sustainable agriculture; protein yield; insect farming; artificial intelligence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/2/652/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/2/652/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:2:p:652-:d:1568034

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().