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Concept
Insects as feed
Summary
Insects as feed are insect species used as animal feed, either for livestock, including aquaculture, or as pet food.
As livestock feed production uses ~33% of the world's agricultural cropland use, large-scale use of insects could be important in the development of a sustainable food system. They can transform low-value organic wastes, are nutritious and have low environmental impacts.
Due to their nutritional profile, especially the high protein content, various types of insects can be used as feed for industrial animal production and aquaculture. An insect-based diet for farm animals has been scientifically investigated for pigs, poultry and edible fish. Insects can provide as much protein and essential amino acids for swine and poultry that can potentially replace soybean meal in a diet. Inclusion of black soldier fly larvae in a diet for fish farming gave positive effect with no difference in odor and texture. At the same time, there are challenges and disadvantages compared to established feed in terms of performance and growth. For monogastric farm animals, such as swine and poultry, replacing their conventional formula entirely with insects can result to decrease in performance and growth e.g., because insect flour may contain high levels of ash. However other research suggests that animals fed insect protein from black-soldier flies, achieved faster growth rates and better-quality meat than with soya or fishmeal. Insects as feed are legally considered farm animals themselves, therefore they must not receive feed from ruminant proteins, kitchen and food waste, meat and bone meal and liquid manure.
With a view to protecting the environment and resources as well as feed and food security in the face of a growing world population, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has called for increased use of feed insects for feed production.
Black-soldier flies, common house fly larvae and mealworms are some of the most common insects in animal feed production. Black soldier flies and common house flies often reside in manure piles and in organic wastes.
Official source
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