Feed & Additive Magazine Issue 3 April 2021

ARTICLE 78 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE April 2021 BOLD RETHINKING OF PET NUTRITION WITH INSECT PROTEIN GAINS MOMENTUM With over 500 million cats and dogs globally, feeding our pets contributes to a soaring 56 and 151 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emission per year - similar to the combined emissions of the Philippines and Mozambique. Insect protein is a rapidly emerging sustainable pet food ingredient. Both insect producers themselves, such as Protenga in South East Asia, as well as global pet food leaders such as Nestle are boldly rethinking formulations to create environmentally sustainable pet nutrition with insects. Puteri Nizar Partnership & Product Specialist Protenga Salamahafifi Yusnaieny Senior Project Manager Protenga I nsect protein is the latest emerging market for animal feed protein. The largest market for in- sect protein at present is the pet food industry. Ra- bobank predicts the insect protein as a pet food in- gredient would rise to 150,000 metric tons by 2030. While the insect protein market as an animal feed ingredient in general could expand potentially up to 500,000 metric tons by 2030. Pet food with insect protein is a premium segment that is expected to advance as the demand for in- sect-based pet food increases, especially by developed countries. Although the prices are at the higher end of the price spectrum, higher growth of the industry is forecasted due to the current trend of pet owners in providing their pets with high-protein and more natural treats with better sustainability advantages. The hypoallergenic traits of insect protein could cater for the sensitive and allergies-prone pets. The high marketing and functional value are also addi- tional contributing factors. EFFICIENT INSECTS Insect species actively manufactured by multiple companies globally include housefly, crickets, locusts and mealworm. The Black Soldier Fly (BSF, Herme- tia illucens) is the most popular species constituting close to 70% of the total insect production in the world. The BSF particularly thrive at high densities, have fast development, are able to store protein and fat, naturally able to reduce pathogenic bacteria and not a pest or vector species.