ISSUE FOCUS 26 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2022 The livestock feed industry is facing the challenge of sustainability in the midst of a complex context marked by climate change, the energy crisis and volatile grain prices. In this scenario, insect protein has emerged as a promising alternative for animal feed in crucial sectors, such as aquaculture or swine. This new industry will bring to market millions of tons of product per year over the next decade. And it will do so without competing with human consumption and with minimal environmental impact to meet the needs of an expanding market. The fact that alternative sources of protein will minimize the environmental impact of the agrifood sector is something that no one is unaware of. And if they are emerging so strongly, it is largely because the agricultural production system is not sustainable in the long term. According to figures from the UN Food and Agriculture Agency (FAO), the traditional agri-food sector is responsible for one third of the world's annual greenhouse gas emissions. And the worst thing is that even then it will not be able to produce enough food for the world's population in the near future. Hence the urgency of finding new sources of supply that are both sustainable in the long term and environmentally friendly. At first glance, the challenge seems unattainable, but it is not. And the painful energy crisis we are going through, believe it or not, can give us the impetus we need to definitively face the transition to a new model that will allow us to be more efficient and at the same time strengthen the industry. SCALABILITY AND EFFICIENCY Among the new sources of protein that have been making their way for years are insects. And of these, the Tenebrio molitor or mealworm is one of the most interesting ones. The industry is new, but not newborn. The solutions it provides have been proven and regulated for years in the animal feed sector. And the scalability of the production model has already been implemented, allowing companies in the sector to compete with other raw materials at or very close to market prices. That's not to say that this novel source of protein will replace existing ones, because they will all still be needed. But it will bring a new perspective to the industry and millions of tons per year of sustainable products with minimal environmental impact. The figures are well known, but it is worth recalling them because they represent a key element in the development of the sector: a vertical mealworm farm needs 95% less arable land and 98% less water INSECTS, A SUSTAINABLE PROTEIN FOR A GROWING MARKET Sabas de Diego Co-founder and CTO Tebrio
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==