ARTICLE Alternative Proteins Magazine October 2024 31 Insect production in k MT 500 400 300 200 100 0 2021 2022 2023 Total Swine Poultry Aqua Pet 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 150 200 120 30 In insect materials, protein is the nutrient composing the largest fraction, with values ranging from 40% to more than 60% on a dry matter basis. Fat makes up the second largest fraction, and generally, insect materials contain lower levels of ash compared to other animal protein sources (see Table 1). Insects are also packed with micronutrients, including iron, zinc, calcium, and B-vitamins, which are vital for various bodily functions.6 One key property of insect ingredients is that it is possible to modulate their nutritional composition by changing the feeding during the insect rearing. Several studies confirmed this by investigating the impact of different diets on the content and amino acid profile, lipids and other nutrients in insect protein meals and oils. Consequently, we could find insect meals and oils from the same species but with a different amino acid profile or fatty acid profile12. Therefore, insects represent versatile raw materials for the pet food industry with fast growing expectations in the market. As per Rabobank’s research of 2021, see Figure 1, the global volume of insect ingredients incorporated in feed and pet food is expected to grow up to 500K MT by 2030, predicting pet food to be the second largest market.13 According to a review done in 2023, there are 43 insect-based pet food brands active around the globe, 35 of which are operating in Europe. Black soldier fly and mealworm are the most used species in pet foods.14 Despite the various advantages of using insect ingredients there are other aspects that must be evaluLife stage Protein (%) Fat (%) Ash (%) Fiber (%) Edible insect Black soldier fly7 Meal worm8 Banded cricket9 Field cricket10 Commercial BSF11 Larvae Larvae Imago Imago Final meal 42.35 53.75 70.00 56.40 56.27 24.29 37.10 18.23 28.80 14.12 7.00 - 3.65 7.00 7.87 21.50 2.75 4.74 6.40 8.61 Table 1. Average nutrient composition of selected form of insects on a dry matter basis. Figure 1. Increase of the insect production and use in feed and pet food.
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