SUSTAINABILITY 68 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE June 2025 According to IPIFF’s 2024 – 2029 Policy Roadmap, the sector is expected to create over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2030. These are not just any jobs - they are high-tech, green economy roles located in rural and peri-urban areas, offering a tangible contribution to the EU’s green transition goals. This is a European innovation story - and it must be recognised as such. While other regions still debate the merits of insect farming, the EU has developed the gold standard. But this leadership should not be taken for granted. Continued investment, supportive regulation, and clear communication are essential to keep Europe at the forefront. LOOKING BEYOND FEED: THE FULL POTENTIAL OF INSECTS While insect protein’s primary use today is in aquafeed and pet food, its potential extends far beyond. Research is rapidly expanding into human food applications, insect chitosan for biomedical use, insect oil for cosmetics. Insect frass is already being widely used as an alternative to synthetic fertilisers. This is the beginning of a true bio-based economy - and insects are at the centre of it. By applying circular logic to biological innovation, the sector is transforming how we think about resource use, production, and waste. A CALL TO ACTION: SCIENCE, SUPPORT AND SCALE-UP To fully unlock the potential of insect farming in Europe, the sector requires a supportive and forward-looking policy environment. This begins with accelerating the authorisation processes for new feedstocks and applications - decisions that must be based on rigorous safety data and robust sustainability assessments. At the same time, insect producers must be granted fair and consistent access to by-products, such as meat and fish containing former foodstuffs, which hinges on the amending of relevant EU Regulations (e.g. EU animal by-products legislation) and the harmonisation of definitions and the development of clear, fit-for-purpose end-of-waste criteria across Member States. Equally vital is continued investment in scientific research into Life Cycle Assessments and in the development of sector-specific calculation methodologies, thereby assessing the specificities of insect food and feed products and better understanding their long-term impacts across ecosystems and value chains. Finally, the sector must be supported in its efforts to communicate more clearly and transparently - not just to regulatory bodies, but also to consumers, farmers, and policymakers. Ensuring that public debate is informed by evidence, rather than sensationalism, is essential to building trust and scaling sustainable innovation. The insect sector is no longer a niche - it is a key component of Europe's sustainable food and feed future. By combining circular economy principles with scientific integrity, and by fostering regional value chains rooted in innovation, insect farming delivers on the Green Deal’s promise of a fairer, cleaner, and more resilient Europe. As IPIFF, we remain committed to ensuring this transition continues to be led by facts - not fiction. About Christophe Derrien Christophe Derrien is amongst Brussels’ public affairs veterans. With over 15 years’ experience in agrifood, he leads the IPIFF Secretariat. Derrien played a leading role in the establishment of IPIFF as an EU umbrella organisation back in 2015. He is in charge of coordinating the outreach activities of the organisation, regulatory developments (e.g. animal feed, frass, new substrates), as well as the general management of the Secretariat and membership. Furthermore, Christophe Derrien coordinates the activities of several internal working fora (e.g. IPIFF Working Group on ‘Feed Hygiene & Animal Nutrition’ and IPIFF Knowledge Platform on ‘new feeding substrates’). He speaks French, English, Spanish and some Dutch.
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