Nowadays, it is urgent to produce in larger quantities and more sustainably to reduce the gap between food supply and demand. In a circular bioeconomy vision, insects receive great attention as a sustainable alternative to satisfy food and nutritional needs. Among all insects, Tenebrio molitor (TM) is the first insect approved by the European Food Safety Authority as a novel food in specific conditions and uses, testifying its growing relevance and potential. This review holistically presents the possible role of TM in the sustainable and circular solution to the growing needs for food and nutrients. We analyze all high value‐added products obtained from TM (powders and extracts, oils and fatty acids, proteins and peptides, and chitin and chitosan), their recovery processes (evaluating the best ones in technical and environmental terms), their nutritional and economical values, and their biological effects. Safety aspects are also mentioned. TM potential is undoubted, but some aspects still need to be discussed, including the health effects of substances and microorganisms in its body, the optimal production conditions (that affect product quality and safety), and TM capacity to convert by‐products into new products. Environmental, economic, social, and market feasibility studies are also required to analyze the new value chains. Finally, to unlock the enormous potential of edible insects as a source of nutritious and sustainable food, it will be necessary to overcome the cultural, psychological, and regulatory barriers still present in Western countries.

Little is known about the distribution and species composition of cetaceans in the Gulf of Taranto, central Mediterranean Sea. Available information is limited to stranding reports and to scant preliminary observations at sea. Cetacean sightings were recorded between April 2007 and October 2009 during 23 daily boat surveys, totalling 1728 km of navigation. Three cetacean species were encountered: striped dolphins (n = 41), Risso's dolphins (n = 5) and fin whales (n = 3). An additional sighting of a sperm whale group is reported. Encounter rates of striped dolphins were the highest, suggesting a regular occurrence in the study area. Risso's dolphins seemed to be predictably present in continental slope waters off the coast of Basilicata. Fin whales and striped dolphins, normally inhabiting deep pelagic waters offshore, were found in continental slope waters relatively close to the coast, possibly due to the particular bathymetry of the Gulf of Taranto and to oceanographic conditions that enhance local productivity. High human impact and worsening environmental conditions in the northern Gulf of Taranto raise concerns over the future of cetaceans living in these waters. This study expands previous knowledge and aims to stimulate research on whales and dolphins in what seems to be an important portion of their Mediterranean range.

The projected growth of the global population to over 10 billion by 2080 necessitates groundbreaking sustainable agricultural solutions that enhance productivity while mitigating environmental impacts. Tenebrio molitor frass (TMF), derived from larval excrement and exuviae, has emerged as a promising organic fertilizer. Enriched with macro- and micronutrients, TMF enhances soil functions through microbial communities that promote nutrient cycling, decompose organic matter, and suppress soilborne pathogens. Additionally, functional compounds like chitin, cellulose, xylans, and lignin improve the soil structure, foster beneficial microbes, and activate natural plant defence responses. The synergy of microbial activity and bioactive compounds positions TMF as a valuable resource for enhancing plant growth and soil health. Its role as a nutrient source, biostimulant, and soil amendment aligns with circular economy principles by recycling agro-industrial by-products and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. TMF also contributes to sustainable agriculture by improving soil fertility, microbial biodiversity, and plant stress resilience, while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient runoff. Additionally, TMF-derived biochar offers the potential for environmental remediation as an effective adsorbent. Despite its advantages, TMF faces challenges in scalability, cost, and regulations, requiring advancements in processing, enrichment, and supportive policies to maximize its potential in sustainable farming.

New solutions are compulsorily needed to reconcile the enormous and ever-growing request for protein for human nutrition and, at the same time, reduce conventional meat production. This epochal challenge can find a valuable aid to a winning solution in insect rearing. The use of insects as feed and food, far from being a definitive solution to global food shortages, can offer new protein sources and perfectly fit circular economy precepts, yet more so when insects feed on by-products from the agri-food industry. In this scenario, Tenebrio molitor (TM) is a concrete alternative. Therefore, making its rearing more sustainable is a prime objective. In this paper, we evaluated the possibility of replacing usual plant sources of wet supplementation used in TM rearing with sustainable alternatives, including the cladodes of prickly pear (Opuntias ficus indica, OFI), to reduce the frequency of administration, thus minimizing related labor costs. The alternatives were tested for water content, dehydration, and shelf life to select the best-performing ones. On the selected matrices, we evaluated the preference of the larvae and their palatability because a matrix may be convenient and sustainable but not appreciated by consumers. The results showed that OFI cladodes have high moisture and a long shelf life and are appreciated by the larvae that prefer them to other matrices. Thus, OFI can replace the conventional wet source in TM rearing, at least in areas where this cactus grows wild and is not difficult to obtain.

The European Commission approval of some insect species for human consumption, starting with Tenebrio molitor (TM) in 2021, has drawn attention to the production of insect-derived protein flours and the sustainability of insect-rearing systems, particularly on a large scale. This has also highlighted the importance of utilizing byproducts, such as frass, and obtaining high-value-added products, such as biofertilizers. This study explored the potential for TM frass (TMF) to serve as a natural fertilizer for the cultivation of Canasta lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata). Specifically, a series of tests was carried out to assess the efficacy of thermal treatment and to verify the trend of certain chemical and growth parameters as a function of the TMF percentage to be added to the potting soil. For this purpose, different percentages of both thermal-treated and untreated TMF and their effects on various growth parameters of Canasta lettuce were evaluated through pot trials. Furthermore, TMF was characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to gain insights into its structural features and potential influence on soil–plant interactions. Our results show that heat treatment of TMF is essential to ensure plant survival, and at least in pots, TMF percentages above 5% of soil dry weight are not recommended. In our tests, the most suitable percentage was 4%.