• Submitted by: admin
• Caribbean
• Destinations
• Education
• Matanzas
• national
• Society
• Science and Technology
• 07 / 26 / 2008

---

This experiment —underway at the Indio Hatuey Pasture and Forage Experimental Station in central Matanzas province— constitutes a baseline study still in the evaluation phase.

In statements published on the Juventud Tecnica website, project engineer Roberto Carlos Fiallo said they have already five raised generations of worms and have tested this process for two years.

“We have proven that is possible to raise silkworms in a climate like Cuba’s as long as the proper conditions are met. In fact, we have even obtained high quality cocoons that, while still not competitive on the market, might be in the future,” he added.

Fiallo explained that cocoons are used in cosmetology for growing hair, are useful in fighting hyperglycaemic human processes and, in the future, could be used to feed chickens and rabbits due to their high protein value.

Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons made by the larvae of the Bombyx mori reared in captivity (sericulture).  Silk fabrics are highly priced on the international markets due to their beauty.

Sericulture has been carried out for thousands of years. Though its exact origin is unknown, it is believed to

(ACN)