FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE 7 January 2026 NUTRITIONAL VALUE BEYOND NOVELTY From a nutritional perspective, insect ingredients offer compelling functional benefits. They provide high-quality protein, favorable amino acid profiles, and, in many cases, functional components such as lipids and bioactive compounds that support animal health. Importantly, insect ingredients are not positioned as universal replacements for conventional feedstuffs. Instead, they are increasingly used as targeted inputs—addressing specific nutritional, functional, or formulation needs where they add measurable value. This positioning has helped insect-based ingredients integrate into existing feed systems rather than compete directly with established commodities. It also aligns with how nutritionists and formulators evaluate ingredients: based on performance, consistency, and suitability for a given application. A MEASURED ROLE FOR CIRCULARITY AND CO-PRODUCTS While insect agriculture is often associated with circular economy concepts, North American producers have taken a practical, application-driven view of circularity. Insects can convert certain underutilized nutrient streams into higher-value outputs when feedstock availability, logistics, and location are aligned. Co-products such as frass—the residual material from insect production—are increasingly recognized as valuable inputs for soil and agricultural applications. In North America, frass is not treated as a by-product afterthought, but as an integrated output that can strengthen overall system economics and nutrient efficiency. While animal nutrition remains the primary market driver for most producers, the responsible utilization of co-products reflects a broader, more resilient approach to agricultural resource use. LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE, NOT HYPE Like many emerging sectors, insect agriculture has experienced periods of heightened expectations. Some highly visible international projects pursued rapid scale and capital-intensive models that proved difficult to sustain. In North America, the industry’s evolution has been more incremental, informed by early lessons and grounded in operational realities. Today’s progress reflects that learning curve. Companies are focused on operational efficiency, customer relationships, and regulatory alignment—rather than broad claims or one-size-fits-all solutions. As Chris Warburton, President of the North American Coalition for Insect Agriculture (NACIA) and Chief Scientific Officer of Entosystem, notes: “What we’re seeing in North America is not hype—it’s steady progress. Regulatory approvals, commercial adoption, and real customer demand are moving together, which is exactly how a new ingredient category should mature.” LOOKING AHEAD: A DURABLE ROLE IN ANIMAL NUTRITION Insect-based ingredients are now firmly part of the animal nutrition conversation in North America. Their role is defined not by novelty, but by performance, safety, and suitability within established feed systems. As regulatory frameworks continue to evolve and additional data becomes available, insect ingredients are well positioned to expand responsibly into new applications—particularly in pet food and specialized animal nutrition markets. The North American experience demonstrates that innovation in animal nutrition does not require disruption for its own sake. Instead, progress is achieved through alignment: between science and regulation, between producers and customers, and between innovation and practicality. In that context, insect agriculture represents not a revolution, but a meaningful addition to the animal nutrition toolbox—one that continues to earn its place through results. Approved for use in animal feed for Dried BSFL BSFL Oil BSFL Meal Regulatory Approval for Insect Products Dried Yellow Mealworm Dried Crickets Cricket meal
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