NEWS 102 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE April 2025 The UK Edible Insect Association (UKEIA) called on anyone interested in the future of alternative protein in the UK to join its collective responses to the Food Standards Agency and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), to catch it up globally with the many countries that have already widely embraced insect protein as a human food, livestock feed and pet food ingredient. According to the statement of UKEIA, it is estimated that people in 113 countries consume at least one insect species. But when it comes to farmed insect protein, the UK is currently behind the curve. In Japan, 123 species have been approved, showing its citizens’ openness to the alternative protein source. Singapore approved 16 species last summer, Australia, also in 2024, allowed super mealworms, house crickets and mealworm beetles onto menus, and Europe approved four species by 2023. UKEIA believes that now two huge opportunities to influence government regulations in the UK on whether insects should be put on the menu for UK humans (crickets), chickens and pigs (mainly Black Soldier Fly) respectively. The association says this could fundamentally open up opportunities for this exciting sector. The first response from UKEIA will be to the public consultation from DEFRA: “Livestock feed controls review for England and Wales”, which examines the regulations around whether some species of animal could be fed with insects or other meat-based protein sources. Read more>> The first published scientific paper on a Rumin8 animal trial conducted by a leading academic institution found that the company’s investigational veterinary product reduced total methane emissions in cattle by 95.2%, with no significant impact on animal production parameters or the rumen environment. “The effect of Rumin8 Investigational Veterinary Product – a bromoform based feed additive – on enteric methane emissions, animal production parameters, and the rumen environment in feedlot cattle,” L Kelly, et al, was published in Translational Animal Science. The trial was conducted by the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) and evaluated the effects of the Rumin8 Investigational Veterinary Product (IVP) on enteric gas emissions, animal production parameters and the rumen environment. “Compared to other studies on synthetic halogenated methane analogues, the CH4 reductions observed with Rumin8 oil IVP in this study are among the most substantial reported,” the study’s authors concluded. “Neither treatment significantly affected animal production parameters or rumen environment parameters,” the authors expressed. The trial, which involved 24 cattle split into three groups and fed a total mixed ration (TMR), found total methane emissions were reduced by 95.2%, methane yield (g/kg DMI) was reduced by 93.0%, and methane intensity (g/kg ADG) was reduced by 93.4% when Rumin8’s oil IVP was added to the feed. Read more>> UKEIA calls for action on UK’s insect protein regulations Rumin8’s feed additive reduces methane by 95.2% in cattle trial
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