IFI Webinar Series

• US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

This presentation highlights studies evaluating insect meals and insect derived value added products as emerging feed ingredients for broiler chickens. Research in this area explores how insects can serve as sustainable, protein alternatives to conventional feed sources.

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• Aquaculture Laboratory, University of Thessaly (Greece)

This presentation will highlight the suitability of insect meals for the sustainable development of aquaculture and the current obstacles preventing their widespread implementation. As global seafood demand rises, aquaculture has become the primary provider of fish for human consumption, underscoring the urgent need for the sector to adopt more responsible practices. Traditionally, fishmeal derived from wild stocks has served as the core protein source in aquafeeds; however, the stagnation of these natural resources necessitates the transition to alternative feedstuffs. Over the last decade, research has increasingly focused on insect meals as high-quality, sustainably produced protein alternatives. While scientific evidence confirms that various insect species can contribute substantially to fishmeal replacement in the diets of several commercial fish, the industry remains hesitant. This reluctance stems primarily from the higher market price of insect meals compared to conventional fishmeal, alongside persistent concerns regarding the use of these non-traditional raw materials.

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• National Observatory on Insect Farming

Insect farming is widely presented as a lower-impact protein source for feed and food, a claim that rests on the assumption that insects can be reared on food waste and are more efficient than conventional livestock. Drawing on the author's peer-reviewed studies, this presentation tests both assumptions against operating conditions in Western facilities, where insects are used as human food, animal feed, and pet food.

Most life cycle assessments were conducted at small scale in conditions that do not transfer to Western industrial production, and the assumption that farms will run on food waste persists despite regulatory and logistical barriers that push large operations towards feed-grade substrates. In this last case, insect meal generates higher greenhouse gas emissions than soybean meal and fishmeal in most scenarios relevant to Western production.

In food markets, insect-based products displace plant-based foods that already have low environmental footprints rather than meat, so the environmental case depends heavily on the substrate and comparison product the analysis assumes.

The session identifies which barriers the sector must resolve to deliver on its promises, and which strategies the data does not support.

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