ARTICLE 40 F&A Alternative Proteins Edition October 2023 About Nick Piggott Nick Piggott is a co-founder and Co-CEO of Nutrition Technologies, an industrial-scale BSF manufacturer based in South East Asia. With a background in Life Sciences, Piggott was exposed to the challenges of food security whilst working for the UN in West Africa, and the company has since developed insect-based feed-ingredients for the livestock and aquaculture industries to address this issue. Nick Piggott is the industry-side face of Nutrition Technologies, overseeing the product, regulatory, & client side of the business, ensuring that the organization maintains constant awareness of the competitive & regulatory landscape, market trends, technology developments and industry standards. Drilling-down into the detail of the raw materials, those inputs that could otherwise have been used for direct animal feed, such as wheat bran, corn gluten meal, and rice bran carry the heaviest environmental footprint, and those that aren’t otherwise viable feed ingredients, such as palm decanter cake (PDC) or used coffee grounds generally have the lightest footprint. In addition to the direct climate impact implications, we should also consider the fact that in some parts of the world many of the ingredients currently being used for larvae feed are being diverted away from existing use in animal feed, rather than upcycling nutrients from material that would otherwise be lost or low-level recycled in compost. So, an important question to ask insect producers is not only “what do you feed your insects'', but also “Could those materials be used in direct animal feed?” APPLICATIONS IN AQUAFEED The production of fish meal from fish residues has a climate change impact of around 1.43 kg CO2-eq per kg of fishmeal (location and source dependent). Based on LCA data from a number of BSF producers, replacing this fishmeal with insect meal can reduce the climate impact of producing shrimp feed. Even more interestingly, insect meal is frequently proven to reduce the FCR in shrimp trials, therefore compounding the benefits of the lower carbon footprint with a lower overall demand for feed. Although pelagic fishmeal (such as Peruvian anchovy) generally has a lower carbon footprint than even insect meal, as feed manufacturers aim to reduce their inclusion of virgin marine ingredients, they rely more heavily on fish processing residues, which have a significantly higher environmental footprint. This transition to fish processing residues benefits overall ocean health, but then increases overall carbon emissions. By replacing either type of fishmeal with insect meal, manufacturers have the opportunity to avoid both negative ocean and climate impacts. SUMMARY In conclusion, the feed sector's journey towards sustainability is pivotal in mitigating its environmental impact. Through advancements in ingredient sourcing, efficient production practices, and rigorous waste management, the industry is poised to significantly reduce its footprint. Embracing technologies like precision nutrition and circular economy principles, it has the potential to not only lessen resource consumption but also curb emissions and habitat degradation. As the feed sector strides towards a more sustainable future, it not only addresses its own environmental challenges but also sets a crucial example for the broader agricultural landscape. This transformation is not just desirable; it is imperative for a greener, more harmonious planet.
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