Insects as animal feed: natural and sustainable
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In short- Alternative to soy
- Makes fodder more sustainable
- Helps close the cycle
Insects grown on food industry residues can make animal feed more sustainable. The process has proved to be safe, productive and sustainable. Chicken welfare also improves when insects are on the menu. At WUR, we are studying the economic feasibility and ethical aspects of this promising alternative to soy and fishmeal.
The insect sector is rapidly developing into an innovative link in the Dutch agricultural and food chain. Insects convert low-value residues into high-value proteins, fats and other useful prod-ucts. They are a promising alternative to soy and fishmeal, which are now the main sources of protein for animals. Soy, in particular, claims a lot of farmland across the world and causes significant climate damage.
Insects can be farmed locally, take up very little space and grow on manure and organic waste such as vegetable residues and industrial by-products. This makes them not only more efficient, but also more sustainable.
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The main environmental benefits of insect farming are:
- Less use of land and water
- Low emissions of greenhouse gases
- Transformation of low-cost organic by-products into high-quality feed ingredients
The results of our studies are promising, but with interest growing rapidly, more information is needed to fully assess the potential of these innovative raw materials.
Research on the use of insect products in animal feed currently focuses most on replacing traditional protein sources such as soybean meal and fishmeal, and we are investigating health-promoting effects of insect products in animal feed. In addition, we are studying the economic feasibility and ethical side of insect farming from different disciplines.
At WUR, we are exploring how to scale up the breeding of insects such as the black soldier fly and mealworm to provide large quantities of consistent quality. We will then look at how to add insect products to feed for farmed fish, poultry and piglets. Through our insect research, we contribute to a food system that has less impact on climate and the environment and can feed a growing world population.
Current food production will almost double by 2050, when there are expected to be 9 billion people. Land is scarce and expansion of agricultural land is rarely a viable or sustainable op-tion. Oceans are overfished and climate change and related water shortages have serious im-plications for the planet's resources, socio-economic development and the environment.
Using insects to feed humans or farm animals is a promising alternative because of their nutri-tional value and potential environmental benefits. Different types of insects can be efficiently grown on organic residues and fed to different animal species. In general, most edible insect species seem to be good sources of amino acids, fatty acids, most minerals and specific vita-mins.
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dr.ing. T (Teun) Veldkamp
Researcher Feed & Insects