NEWS 14 Alternative Proteins Magazine April 2024 A recent study published in the Journal of Insects as Food and Feed into the impact of insect ingredients in dog food reported positive effects on dental health. Volatile sulphur compound (VSC)-producing bacteria in the dental plaque were reduced and beneficial bacteria such as Moraxella were increased in saliva microbiota. The study, conducted with a diet based on the black soldier fly (BSF), shows a drop in the dreaded bad breath that afflicts many of our canine companions. The results open up exciting opportunities for pet food manufacturers to develop new applications, from treats and kibble to wet food, that capitalise on the positive oral health message. Researchers at the Federal University of Paraiba (UFBP) in Brazil reported a 7% reduction in the bacteria that cause VSC and trigger bad breath. This outcome is particularly notable since VSC-producing bacteria would generally be expected to increase with the consumption of regular food with no dental prophylaxis. In addition, based on a metagenomic analysis, the black soldier fly diet seems to modulate saliva microbiota. The abundance of Moraxella in saliva was increased. The Moraxella group of bacteria is considered a marker of oral health and beneficial for the oral microbiome. Read more>> New study: Diet based on BSF improves oral health and reduces bad breath in dogs Enorm Biofactory inaugurated the largest insect farm in Northern Europe in Hvirring, Denmark. Enorm aims to produce 100 tonnes of larvae per day on its new farm. On the new 22,000-square-meter farm, black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) will be bred and processed into insect protein and insect oil. Much of the technology installed at Enorm Biofactory was supplied by Better Insect Solutions, a subsidiary of the Big Dutchman Group that specialises in complete solutions for insect farming. Better Insect Solutions provided the climate systems for the breeding and growing sections, air cleaning and heat recovery equipment, the liquid feeding system, and the crates for the larvae. Overall, around EUR 70 million was invested in the project. “Enorm Biofactory is a milestone for insect farming in Europe, and we are delighted that our equipment has made such an important contribution to the success of this lighthouse project,” said Dr. Frank Hiller, CEO of Big Dutchman. “We value this cooperation very highly because the larvae of the black soldier fly have enormous potential. We believe that this alternative protein source can permanently replace a large part of the soy that is currently being imported to Europe.” Accordingly, Big Dutchman has bundled the group’s insect farming know-how into the subsidiary Better Insect Solutions, which was founded in 2020. Enorm Biofactory breeds black soldier flies that mate and lay eggs, from which the larvae hatch. The larvae’s main food source is residue from the regional food industry. After around 12 days, they are processed into insect oil and insect meal, products that have already shown promising results in connection with the management and health of pigs and poultry. The goal to produce 100 metric tonnes of larvae per day. Read more>> Northern Europe's largest insect farm opens in Denmark
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