Grashopper Rendang

The challenge

Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) is the major problems in NTT (East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia), an effect of the high price of animal protein source. In fact, grasshoppers are abundantly available and are actually having the potential to be used as main ingredients in high protein food to solve malnutrition in NTT. Rendang is the most delicious food in the world which is usually made from beef, coconut milk, and various spices. Here we proposed Mr. Hopper, tasty rendang made from grasshopper meat which has high nutrition contents such as protein and mineral so that it’s able to solve PEM problems in NTT. It is packed with OPP (Orientated Polypropylene) film under vacuum condition and keep shelf life until a year. To ensure safety, Mr. Hopper is produced under HACCP and GMP implementation. With its unique delicious rendang taste and high protein content, Mr. Hopper manufacturing is very promising to develop. It is expected to contribute to solving PEM occurrence and also to provide more job opportunities, thus improving the economic status of NTT’s people.

The solution

Introduction PEM is currently the most widespread and serious health problem of children in the world. NTT has PEM problems seriously, over 30% of the people are suffered. Beside of that, NTT has economic problems with poverty and high unemployment. One way to increase protein consumption in NTT by introducing a new affordable high protein food. Grasshopper is a better source of protein than beef, chicken, or pork, it’s more nutritious, abundant and environmentally friendly to breed. Currently, grasshoppers are considered only as a pest by farmers. Its utilization as food has not been done yet despite it has a high content of protein, mineral, and vitamin. Rendang which main ingredients are beef and coconut milk is known as most delicious food in the world, its origin is Sumatra, Indonesia. We here proposed to substitute beef with grasshopper as the main ingredient so it is more affordable. For that reason, Mr. Hopper can be a good alternative solution to improve malnutrition condition in NTT, as well as its economic status. Product and Processing Technology Mr. Hopper is rendang made from grasshopper, coconut milk, and several spices. To produce Mr. Hopper, coconut milk, sliced spices and spices paste are mixed then heated at 248 F for five minutes and stirred up constantly to prevent crusting. The process is to provide specific flavor and to spread out oil from the coconut milk. After that, the cleaned grasshopper is and the temperature is decreased to 176 F to prevent overcooked. Then the product is cooled and packed with OOP film under a vacuum condition to be longer the shelf life approximately up to one year5. The flow diagram of Mr. Hopper processing is shown in APPENDIX 1. Quality, Safety, and Stability Rendang is one of the most delicious food in the world according to CNN survey reported on September 2011. It’s acceptable for people of different age or gender. So processing grasshopper into rendang can be an interesting way to introduce insect as a new protein source since consuming insect is not so common as compared to other animal protein sources. In order to have a long shelf life until a year while kept under room temperature, Mr. Hopper is formulated with some spices in the process and packed with OOP under vacuum condition. The spices will provide antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant effects. Grasshopper is a nutritious insect with high protein and energy. It also contains a variety of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. Vitamin ranging from vitamins B1, B2, B3, C6. Though anti-nutritional factor was present such tannin and phytin in low amount, it can be lowered by heating introduced during the making process. One serving size of Mr. Hopper contains approximately 169.64 kcal that can fulfill Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) of protein 37.69% for female and 45.89% for male. The complete estimation of Mr. Hopper nutrition fact and DRI is shown in APPENDIX 3 based on calorie intake for people of 14-18 years old. To ensure product safety, the producing process must be done based on the HACCP Plan (APPENDIX 2) and Good Manufacturing Process. Project Feasibility Grasshopper as main ingredients of Mr. Hopper is found all the year and has high abundant in NTT. Based on their feed and the maintenance cost, establishing grasshopper farm is easier than livestock. Grasshopper farm needs a smaller area farming and lower amount of water. Beside of that, the excreta of grasshopper has a high potential to be an alternative fertilizer. The manufacturing process of Mr. Hopper is applicable to both home scale and industrial scale production. The required equipment for the process is blender, gas stove and a vacuum sealer. The cost of producing Mr. Hopper is about $ 0.54/pack. As a result, the price will be $ 1.0/pack which affordable for NTT’s people since their income is around $ 221 per month9. Therefore Mr. Hopper should be acceptable as a nutritious and desirable daily meal and also affordable for them. Impact of the Project Grasshopper has high nutrition content, especially protein. Deficiency of protein can effect serious problems in brain function and immune system10. Mr. Hopper provides daily protein fulfillment to solve PEM problem thus improve NTT’s people nutrition status for better future of the country. Mr. Hopper’s manufacturing will establish new job opportunities for NTT’s people whose 13% of them are unemployment11. Mr. Hopper business project has a great profit of up to 67% of production cost (APPENDIX 4). Mr. Hopper is the most delicious food in the world, so it has great potency to market it over the world. Therefore, Mr. Hopper manufacturing can improve economic and nutrition status in NTT for a brightening future.