Feed & Additive Magazine Issue 2 March 2021

SPECIAL STORY FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE March 2021 49 Mrs. Deguerry, who has made great efforts along with her fellow committee members for the devel- opment of the Asian insect sector, emphasizes in our interview that insects have a more nutritious effect compared to other protein sources and offer a much more sustainable production opportunity. We talked to Anne Deguerry, who believes that the insect industry will play a key role in our future, about many issues; from insects used in the feed in- dustry to the contribution of insect-based proteins to sustainability and their role in our lives in the future. We get the details from Mrs. Deguerry. Mrs. Deguerry, first of all, could you please give us some information about your association? For what purpose was AFFIA established? Who are the members of it and what kind of work do you do? The Asian Food and Feed Insect Association is a non-profit organisation, which was established in 2016 by a group of stakeholders in SE Asia. The aim is to represent the interest of its members from the insects as food and feed sector across Asia. Our two main goals are: • To strengthen the Asian insect sector through a collaborative platform on knowledge sharing, on promotion, on applicable rules and regulations, and on visibility of the Asian insect industry and research, in the global picture. • To develop good practises in the sector for Asian stakeholders, in conjunction with collaboration with relevant Asian authorities. Why have insects or insect-based proteins become so important? Why are we talking about insects more in both human and animal nutrition? Actually, what became really important is the need in alternative protein triggered by a combination of factors: the increase of world population and hence of global consumption, the depletion of marine re- sources including forage fish, and traditional protein production’s high environmental impact on land, on water resources, and in terms of carbon footprint. Insects as food and as feed are nutrient efficient compared to other protein sources, well-balanced in protein, amino-acids, healthy fatty acids and vitamins, while their production is much more sustainable. What is the global acceptability of using insects in human and animal nutrition? In which regions are insects more widely accepted as a food or raw material, and which regions have a more negative approach? For example, what is the prevalence of the usage of insects in the Asian region? Worldwide, insects are part of the natural food chain and diet of many species of birds, reptiles,