~ strengthening collaboration with a world leader in nutrition research ~
Morus Inc. (Headquarters: Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Ryo Sato; hereinafter referred to as “Morus”), whose vision is to “create a new era of protein sources and new food options with low environmental impact,” is pleased to announce a collaborative research project with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a world-class university in nutrition research. The project, which researches on bioavailability of nutrients within the silkworm powder, will deepen material development and strengthen global expansion.
The University of Illinois is a state university in the United States, consisting of three campuses. The flagship campus is in Urbana-Champaign, with other campuses in Chicago and Springfield. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is one of the prestigious public universities known as a Public Ivy, and its research achievements in the fields of engineering and natural sciences are highly rated internationally. The university boasts 30 Nobel Prize winners (as of 2022) and is ranked 4th (2023) in the world university rankings published every year by the Times (UK).
The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has top-ranked programs, including human and animal nutrition, and world-renowned faculty who are committed to aour land-grant mission to ensure sustainable food systems, thriving families and communities, and a healthy planet.
“I am happy to be involved in the nutrition research of silkworm protein powder. Silkworm protein powder is a unique alternative protein source with interesting properties and components. We are expecting unique outcomes, as silkworms are totally different from other insects,” said Carl Parsons, professor in the Department of Animal Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois Urbana Urbana-Champaign.
Ryo Sato, CEO of Morus, added, “We are very honored to begin this joint research with the University of Illinois, one of the world’s top research institutes in nutrition. Through this cutting-edge research, we will reveal the potential of silkworms as a raw material. I would like to realize the social implementation of research findings of the material originating from Japan.”
Morus is an R&D-focused startup company that conducts research and produces biomaterials made from silkworm, the insect that supported development of the Japanese economy. Our mission is to solve global problems such as the protein crisis by creating new raw materials from silkworms and supplying them to multiple industries through efficient mass production.
Not only are silkworms high in protein, but research is progressing toward useful compounds that are not found in other insects. In addition, silkworms have been domesticated throughout the long history of humankind and have characteristics that make them suitable for mass production, such as not escaping or cannibalizing. Ongoing research on silkworms continues to yield new discoveries.
“We believe silkworms will solve the global food crisis and even health problems using Japanese technologies and new research findings,” Sato said.
Careers at Morus
https://morusjp.notion.site/Morus-9a38e68b2e0847259d16fc9cdc09096f
