PROJECT NAME:
Production of Economically Valuable Species Helix lucorum and Cornu aspersum in Open and Closed Systems and Their Evaluation as an Alternative Livestock in Animal Husbandry in Burdur Province
PROJECT MANAGER:
Assoc. Prof. Mustafa Emre GÜRLEK
PROJECT TOPIC:
Snail meat, which has nutritional value parameters similar to fish meat but is very low in cholesterol and rich in omega fatty acids, has been consumed since ancient times and is now regarded as a food preferred by luxury restaurants, especially in Europe. The trade of land snails has become a growing market worldwide due to changing preferences. Despite our country's prominent position as an important export item due to suitable geographical conditions, the fact that production occurs entirely through foraging has led to a notable decline in export quantities in recent years, a natural consequence of climate change and habitat destruction.
Snails Produced for Consumption:
- Contains a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids.
- Rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, cobalt, and iodine.
- Provides a high quality of life.
Snails, which have very limited domestic consumption, are an important export product for our country, particularly prevalent in the North Anatolia region and the Aegean, where foraging is common. Snails exported either with shells or shelled are processed abroad and consumed in canned form. In Europe, Helix pomatia is the most preferred species, followed by Cornu aspersum. The most significant share of exports comes from Helix lucorum, commonly known as the Turkish snail, which has a wide distribution in the study area, followed by other Helix species and especially Cornu aspersum.
In order to meet the increasing demand and to ensure the quality and continuity required by European snail consumers, snail farming has become an important sector in various countries, particularly in France and Italy. Snail farming is an alternative sector that is environmentally friendly, contributes to the conservation of natural stocks, has low investment and operating costs, and can create employment in rural areas. However, in Turkey, there are still only small initiatives regarding snail farming, and there are no scientific studies on the subject.
The species Helix lucorum and Cornu aspersum, which are among the Helicidae family used for human consumption and show a rich diversity with 50 species in our country, have a wide natural distribution in Turkey. These species, which have high ecological suitability and commercial value, present significant potential for cultivation.
This project aims to investigate the adaptation and cultivation of these two species in both open and closed conditions. For this purpose, adaptation studies for farming will be conducted in controlled (closed) and semi-controlled (open) systems to be created as trial environments. With the success of the production, the outputs will be shared with farmers, and support for juvenile supply and sales will be provided.
ROJECT OBJECTIVE:
The snail species considered for production (Helix lucorum, Cornu aspersum) are among the most commonly encountered economically significant species in Turkey. However, rarer species are often collected alongside these species and are generally marketed abroad. The supply of snails offered for sale is entirely through hand collection, and there are practically no restrictions in place.
As a result of the decreasing natural stocks, the annual export revenues have been declining, as can be seen from official figures over the last decade. This situation has also been observed in Europe, leading to significant restrictions and bans on collection from nature. Furthermore, technical and legal regulations have been established to systematize the traditionally practiced cultural production. Therefore, the aim is to develop various culture techniques for economically valuable and edible snail species in Turkey. This includes developing suitable farming methods that align with the environmental needs and climatic conditions of the specified species and creating a production protocol. Additionally, after production, seminars and courses will be held in Burdur province and its districts to teach production techniques, provide juvenile supply (produced at our university), and facilitate the sale of the products.
Here’s the translation of your text:
The project aims to achieve the economic production of the species Helix lucorum, which is widespread throughout Turkey, and Cornu aspersum, which is more prevalent in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions. The parent individuals of the relevant species to be cultivated in the project will be collected from nature, and their adaptation to the culture environment will be ensured. Following this, the developments of these species will be studied from the stages of egg-laying and hibernation to the marketing phase.
The project aims to achieve the following objectives:
- Determining the appropriate feeding ratios and stocking densities for cultivation,
- Assessing the success of species adaptation,
- Identifying the necessary infrastructure and conditions for incorporating other species believed to have economic significance into the culture environment,
- Enhancing employment and production through interactive alternative livestock farming with farmers in Burdur province and its districts.
Thus, the aim is to develop a "production protocol" that can be applied for the species Cornu aspersum and Helix lucorum.
REGIONAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE PROJECT:
The proposed study aims to establish alternative production and employment using economically significant snail species through heliculture (snail farming) practices in Burdur province, which is located in the transitional zone of the Mediterranean climate and possesses suitable characteristics for other cultivation conditions. The scope of the study primarily focuses on production levels, and its results are expected to have a significant impact on producers and be applicable in real life. Our main goal is for the tangible impact to first benefit our province and subsequently contribute to the national economy.
In this study, the distribution areas of the existing land snail species in our region and the ecological characteristics of their preferred areas will be identified. The bio-ecological cycles of the Helix lucorum and Cornu aspersum species, which are considered for cultivation in this region, will also be determined. At the beginning of the study, the physicochemical parameters of the natural environment will be examined concerning the identification of snail species in Burdur province and the conditions for their cultivation.
Before the project was presented, an investigation was conducted into the edible land snail species in the region. The local population's practices of collecting land snails were examined. It was determined that there is a potential audience that is not unfamiliar with this topic and has the space and time for production but lacks knowledge and experience. Additionally, a course titled "Training on the Production, Processing, and Marketing Methods of Land Snails in Turkey," conducted by our researchers from December 24-26, 2009, revealed the existence of a wide audience interested in snail farming not only in the region but also across Turkey. All these preliminary studies have helped us define the scope of the research on the production of the land snail species we are considering.
SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE PROJECT:
Our primary goal is to ensure that the actual impact contributes to the national economy. During the field phase, it will also be possible to observe variations of economically important species, the ecological conditions they inhabit, and stock assessments. During the study period, new scientific contributions will be provided regarding the reproductive, developmental, nutritional, and growth characteristics of local species, which are not well understood, as well as issues such as the impact of diseases and the survival rates of natural enemies.
The reason for collecting individuals at two different stages from the wild is to initiate stock studies while also beginning feeding studies after incubating the brood of the parent snails. The main objective of this project is to ensure the production of these organisms under farm conditions and, in conjunction with this, to provide necessary training to our region's farmers to create an alternative source of income.
The desire and ability of the local population to benefit from the results of this proposed research have encouraged us to prepare such a project.