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# Snail Farming

Heliciculture is the science of snail rearing (or farming).  Edible land snails provide a high protein and low cholesterol food source.  Snails can be raised in a variety of environments, but because of their potential as an invasive species, their enclosures (indoors or outdoors) should be impenetrable.

## Search the NAL Collections

-  Snail Production Techniques:  Raising Terrestrial Snails (Helicidae) Commercial... 
-  An Assessment of Snail-Farm Systems Based on Land Use and Farm Components. 
-  Final Fattening and Outdoor Breeding of the Edible Snail Helix Aspersa. 
-   Carbon footprint of heliciculture: A case study from an Italian experimental f... 

      See all 85 results    

## History of Snail Farming

Edible Snails.  E.W. Rust.  Yearbook of Agriculture 1914. p. 491-503.

 

"Of Snails" in Roman Farm Management: The Treatises of Cato and Varro. Trans. "A Virginia Farmer," from Varro's Rerum Rusticarum, Libri III. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1913. pp. 325-327. Project Gutenberg e-book edition.

## Farming Snails

-  Snail Farming and Research 
References on the farming and research of Helix pomatia or Cornu aspersum (formerly Helix aspersa) resulting from a Google Scholar search.
 
-  Heliciculture
Wikipedia.

Article describes farming edible land snails, snail species, processing snails, and U.S. restrictions and regulations.
 
-  Farming Snails 2: Choosing Snails; Care and Harvesting; Further Improvement (PDF | 2.1 MB)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

This *Better Farming Series* booklet addresses how to select and care for snails, when and how to build a second pen, how to harvest snails, and more.
 
-  Feasibility of Snail Farming as a Model for Small Urban Farms to Expand into Niche Markets for Increased Profitability (PDF)
A. Grilla, C. LaJeunesse, D. McMaster, D. Morgan. Qualifying Project. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Research report submitted to university faculty.  According to the report:  The goal of our project was to advise Higher Ground Farm on the feasibility of snail farming as a model for small urban farms to expand into niche markets for increased profitability.
 

## Regulations, Permits and Restrictions

-  Containment Guidelines for Nonindigenous, Phytophagous Mollusks ( pdf | 33 KB )
USDA. APHIS. Plant Protection and Quarantine.

Purpose of the document:  These guidelines are a reference to help design, build, maintain, and operate a facility for nonindigenous, phytophagous mollusks: including Cornu aspersum (Helix aspersa, Cryptomphalus asperses), Cantareus apertus (Helix aperta), Eobania vermiculata (Otala vermiculata), Helix pomatia, and Otala lacteal.
 
-  Low-acid Canned Food
USDA. Food and Drug Administration.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the canning of low-acid foods such as snails. Federal Regulations require commercial processors of shelf stable acidified foods and low-acid canned foods in a hermetically sealed container to be sold in the United States to register each establishment and file scheduled processes with the Food and Drug Administration for each product, product style, container size and type and processing method (21 CFR 108).   Instructions are available on the web site.
 

## Page Content Curated By

Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC)