In the context of a world facing environmental challenges and growing food demand, insect farming emerges as an innovative and sustainable solution. The FAO 2021 report highlights how insects such as crickets, grasshoppers and tenebrion can provide a protein source rich in vitamins and minerals, with a much lower environmental impact than traditional farming. Their high efficiency in feed conversion and the possibility of rearing them in small spaces reduce the use of water, land and greenhouse gas emissions.
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Food safety is the crucial issue: microbiological, chemical and allergenic risks can arise, especially if insects are harvested in the wild or reared under uncontrolled conditions. For this, it is essential to adopt strict hygiene practices, implement specific regulations and constantly monitor the quality of the substrates used in breeding to ensure safe and healthy products.
In addition to the nutritional and environmental aspects, the sector offers real economic opportunities, favouring the creation of new jobs and the development of rural economies, although it requires a cultural change, especially in western countries. The key to the success of this supply chain lies in the ability to combine innovation, safety and sustainability, to turn insects into a pillar of the future global food supply (FAO, 2021).
In the landscape of sustainable agriculture, the search for alternatives to traditional protein sources is driving the adoption of insects as animal feed. These small organisms, such as the yellow tenebrion and black soldier fly, offer a nutritional profile comparable to that of fish and soya, providing a high protein yield due to their excellent feed conversion efficiency. Farmed in small spaces and with minimal consumption of water and soil, insects drastically reduce environmental impact, limiting greenhouse gas emissions and intensive use of natural resources.
The insect feed sector is gaining ground particularly in aquaculture, where more than 50% of global demand already goes to this sector, and in poultry farming, as well as being used in pet food. Although current costs are higher than for traditional feeds - with some studies showing prices up to six to nine times higher per unit of protein - optimising technologies and increasing industrial-scale production promise a gradual reduction in costs.
The use of insects as feed is not only a matter of nutritional efficiency, but also represents an opportunity to create local production chains, contributing to economic development and diversification of income sources in rural communities. Furthermore, the use of agro-industrial by-products and organic waste as substrate for insect farming fosters a circular economy, reducing waste and promoting the sustainability of the entire agro-food chain.
The global market for insects for animal feed, estimated at $688 million in 2018, is set to reach $1.4 billion by 2024, highlighting a positive trend that could revolutionise the feed industry. To ensure food safety, it is crucial to apply strict standards and constant controls, minimising the risks of microbiological and chemical contamination.
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