ARTICLE 60 F&A Alternative Proteins Edition April 2023 ANTIOXIDANTS & ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES Another important advantage of insect meal is its potential as a source of bioactive compounds, such as antioxidants and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Insects contain a number of antioxidant compounds, including vitamins E and C, carotenoids, and flavonoids, which can help protect fish from oxidative stress and inflammation. The use of insect meal in aquaculture feeds can increase the antioxidant capacity of fish, leading to better growth rates and overall health. Insect meals have also been shown to contain a wide range of antimicrobial peptides, which are small proteins that can help protect fish from bacterial and viral infections. Black Soldier Flies have been found to have more that 50 AMPs - more than any other invertebrate. Antimicrobial peptides are naturally produced by many organisms, including insects, and have been shown to have a broad spectrum of activity against a variety of pathogens. The use of insect meal in aquaculture feeds can help boost the immune system of farmed fish and reduce the need for antibiotics and other chemical treatments that can be harmful to the environment and human health. All this, combined with the fact that the production of insect meal for use in aquaculture feeds is a more sustainable alternative to conventional fish meal, which is often derived from wild fish populations, makes it an even more attractive ingredient in feed formulations. Insect meal can be produced from a range of sustainable sources such as food waste and agricultural by-products, reducing pressure on wild fish populations and promoting more sustainable farming practices. About Davis Fundi Ireri Davis is the Nutritionist & Research and Development Manager at Nutrition Technologies, an industrial-scale BSF meal manufacturer based in Malaysia. He has a background in Plant Pathology where he developed interest in agricultural entomology. Davis has been working for the last 7 years understanding the role of black soldier fly as an alternative sustainable protein source for the feed industry. He leads Bioconversion R&D at Nutrition Technologies developing the understanding of how to better formulate feed for BSFL to increase bioconversion efficiency, whilst providing the right nutrition to the larvae to optimise the meal for multiple feed applications.
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