In synergy with other EU agri-food sectors and stakeholders, the European insect sector is committed to providing innovative and sustainable solutions which should contribute to reducing our dependence on imported proteins as well as mineral fertilisers and strengthen EU self-sufficiency of our food supply chains.

Secretary General
International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF)

Communication Manager
International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF)
The popularity of the insect industry has been increasing in recent years. Europe, in particular, occupies a special position in this area. In fact, it is one of the points where the fastest industrialization in this field is experienced… It can be said that the European Union’s efforts to reduce animal-based emissions and environmental footprint, ensure sustainability in production, meet the food needs of the increasing population and self-sufficiency, which has recently gained importance, are influential in this.
Insects, which are an important link in the food chain in natural life, are considered as an extremely productive food and feed ingredient due to their low environmental, water and land footprint. The amino acid- and vitamin-rich content of insect proteins, as well as the potential to recycle wastes that cannot be used in human nutrition, are some of the factors that make it attractive. However, this industry is just at the beginning and for now continues its growth within the framework of the cautious approach of the European Commission. We talked to Christophe Derrien, Secretary General of the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) about 1.5 years ago, about the importance of the insect industry and its development in the EU. There have been many important developments in the meantime, and we have once again evaluated these developments with IPIFF representatives. This time, Christophe Derrien answered our questions on the subject together with Alice Grassi, IPIFF Communication Manager.
Insects are one of the most important alternative protein sources that come to mind first today. First of all, can you tell us about the features that make insects a good alternative protein source for both feed and food?
Insect farming activities and their derived products respond to the demand for sustainable and high-quality protein to feed a growing population, by generating locally produced food, as well as feed ingredients which could be used in fish or livestock farming.
The sustainability of insect farming is given by its reduced environmental footprint and high efficiency in terms of water and land footprint. Thanks to vertical farming techniques, insect farming requires less arable land as insect farmers use ‘crates’ aligned vertically to rear their insects. Most commonly farmed species are able to absorb the water they need from their substrates. Moreover, insects can also contribute to reducing the burden of food waste, being fed with underused agri-food by-/co-products (e.g., vegetable/fruits/starch origin) or food no longer destined for human consumption (e.g., unsold products from supermarkets, food products arising from the food manufacturing and being discarded for technical reasons).
Insect proteins contain relevant amino acids and vitamins for both animal nutrition and human consumption. Insects are quite versatile ingredients and can be added to foods and feed in different ways. Both directly as whole insects (e.g., boiled, fried or in dried form), processed into powder or paste to increase nutritional value or functionality, as well as various ingredients (e.g., protein powder, insect oil, etc).

We had our last interview with IPIFF in April 2021. Since then, there have been many developments in the insect industry. Especially at the European Commission, new regulations were passed regarding the use of insects and insect products. Can you tell us a little about these regulations and their impact on the insect industry?
Since April 2021, the European insect sector has welcomed several regulatory developments which helped and will help the industry to upscale.
Following the positive vote from the EU Member States in April 2021, Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/1372, which formally authorised the use of Processed Animal Proteins derived from farmed insects (insect PAPs) in pig and poultry feed, entered into force on 7 September 2021. This authorisation opened two of the most relevant EU animal feed markets, which represent circa 65% of the EU compound feed production. Following the entry into force of this implementing regulation, the demand for insects as feed is expected to grow, leading to an increase in the production capacity of the sector. The authorisation of insect PAPs in poultry and pig feed will offer new opportunities – starting with the incorporation of such ingredients into the diet of such animals, the subsequent use of insects in organically farmed chicken and pigs, implicitly strengthening partnerships between insect and animal farms.
With regards to edible insects, since 2021 with the first Novel Food authorisation, several other positive EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) opinions and consequent authorisations have followed. Currently (Autumn 2022), four Novel Food authorisations concerning products derived from edible insects have entered into force: dried yellow mealworm (22 June 2021), dried and frozen migratory locust (3 December 2021), dried, ground and frozen house cricket (2nd March 2022), the second on frozen, dried and powder yellow mealworm (28th February 2022). Two EFSA opinions are still waiting for authorisation (partially defatted house cricket (EFSA’ opinion 13 May 2022) and frozen and freeze-dried formulations of the lesser mealworm (EFSA’ opinion published on 4 July 2022))¹.
Last but not least, the European insect sector also welcomed Regulation (EU) 2021/1925 which defined EU baseline standards for the production and placing on the market of insect frass as organic fertiliser. The legal text aligned the heat treatment process standards for the placing on the market of frass with those applying to processed animal manure, creating harmonisation in the processing standards in the Member States, and paving the way for the commercialisation of these products on the whole EU market.
The animal feed industry has been experiencing serious problems such as the supply of feed ingredients/grains due to global warming, drought, pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine. And, an energy crisis has now been added to this, as well. Could insects or other alternative proteins contribute to the solutions of such problems in the future? How do you evaluate the potential of the EU insect industry in this regard?
In synergy with other EU agri-food sectors and stakeholders, the European insect sector is committed to providing innovative and sustainable solutions which should contribute to reducing our dependence on imported proteins as well as mineral fertilisers and strengthen EU self-sufficiency of our food supply chains.
By expanding the list of feeding substrates for farmed insects, the sector could notably help generate locally produced feed and food products while contributing to safely upcycle losses originating from European agri-food industries. Indeed, up to a third of the food waste generated presently in the EU may be used as insect substrate – before it is classified as ‘waste’. Currently, by-/co-products from grains, starch, fruit and vegetable supply chain products are authorised as substrates for insects. In the future, the possible authorisation of former foodstuffs containing and meat and fish and catering waste would play a key role in upcycling the production capacity of the sector and help facing the supply challenges of our times.

We see that the use of insects as feed and food is now more encouraged by senior leadership due to many topics such as sustainable production, climate and environmental problems, and food safety. What does this mean for the insect industry?
As mentioned in question 1, sustainability and environmental performance of insect farming are topics of great importance for our sector. In spite of the young age of the insect sector, there is growing evidence around the environmental performance indicators of such farming activities. IPIFF is working internally with its Members in order to continue the research and respond to the sustainability performance with scientific data, as other alternative protein sectors.
On the food safety aspect, insect farmers conduct farming practices which follow the EU regulation and, in this regard, continues to update its ‘Guide on Good Hygiene Practices’ which is soon to be approved as EU guide for insect producers.
Is the insect industry in the world able to fulfill all the responsibilities attributed to it? For example, how much of the current capacity can meet the world’s protein needs for feed and food? Regarding this need, do you have a future goal that you have set as representatives of the insect industry?
With several thousand tonnes of insect PAPs produced, the production of insects for food and feed is expected to increase rapidly in the coming years. Building on the total investment raised by the mid-2020s, the sector may reach a total turnover of circa 2 billion euros/year by the end of the decade².
While IPIFF is convinced that insects may soon constitute a reliable complement or partial substitution to fishmeal and soy in feed formulae for aquaculture, poultry and swine animals, we do not however, forecast that insects will fully replace ingredients such as soy meal. “Insect proteins and oils will be new raw material categories, which, in combination with ‘more traditional’ or other novel ingredients, will create better performing feeds with lower environmental footprints”, according to Rabobank report ‘Non longer crawling: Insect protein to come of age in the 2020s’ – 2021.
Yet, if insect production would be reaching around 1 million tonnes of insects proteins, that would contribute to improve EU’s self-sufficiency in terms of High-Pro (30-50%) (today the EU self-sufficiency high pro materials for animal feed is only of 26 %) and Super-Pro (>50%) (today the EU self-sufficiency super- pro materials for animal feed is of 85 %) considering the high protein content of these materials See EU Feed Protein Balance Sheet (forecast) June 2021 through the following link.
IPIFF has a kind of alternative protein coalition with EABA and COFALEC. What is the purpose and goal of this coalition that you name as InnovProtein EU?
Following the joint presentation addressed during the IPIFF Annual Conference on the 1st December 2021; IPIFF, EABA (algae) and COFALEC (yeast) have decided to delineate a joint roadmap on common interests and objectives. ‘InnovProtein EU’ shares the ‘common aim’ of supporting the overall objectives of ‘EU Farm to Fork Strategy’ and the transition towards more sustainable EU food supply chains.
The coalition will work together on unlocking the EU policy opportunities s which could support the development of alternative proteins, exploring nutritional and environmental potential and/or benefits of the sectors, through the streamlining of EU Regulatory frameworks, appropriate R&D efforts as well as developing joint communication activities.
Within the scope of InnovProtein EU, what have you done so far and what are your future plans?
Together with the algae and yeast sectors, IPIFF outreached to EU decision makers in order to support regulatory advancements or the unlocking of EU funded research opportunities to the benefit of our respective sectors. We also consolidated our ties with EU industry sectors from the food and feed chain and participated in different events in the context of promoting the sectors as innovative solutions inspired by nature, encompassing products of both vegetal and animal origin.
Anything else you want to add…
Following the recent milestones achieved last year from the insect PAPs authorisation in poultry and pig feed, the Novel Food authorisations for edible insects (see the dedicated webpage) and the developments of standards for insect frass, IPIFF is committed in unlocking new opportunities for the European insect farmers.
Future possibilities such as the diversification of the inputs authorised as insect substrates (what insects eat) could upscale the insect farming sector. The possible authorisation of former foodstuffs containing and meat and fish and catering waste would play a key role in upcycling the production capacity of the sector. IPIFF is discussing with the European Commission services on building/collecting scientific evidence which would allow the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to confirm that the use of these materials as feed for insects entails safety risks.
In parallel, our organisation supports the objectives of the EU Organic Action Plan in achieving at least 25% of the EU’s agricultural land under organic farming by 2030 and a significant increase in organic aquaculture, in line with the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy. Locally produced feed and food ingredients, such as insects and fertilising products compatible with the concept of organic farming, such as insect frass, could provide farmers with all the necessary tools and instruments that would allow them to convert to organic systems. Moreover, the recent regulatory developments, mentioned above, would contribute to develop EU organic standards for insect farming unlocking its full potential towards a more sustainable food system³.
IPIFF is also closely working with the European Commission services on the updating of its guidance document called ‘IPIFF Guide on Good Hygiene Practices’. The Guide, created in 2019, aims at supporting operators and producers of insect products in achieving high hygiene standards and complying with the EU regulations as well as sharing the best practices in the EU in order to set up an insect business. The document is being discussed within the EC and Member States offices in view of possible validation before the end of the year.
¹More information on the Novel Food developments and processes here https://ipiff.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FAQs-Insects-as-Novel-Foods-in-the-European-Union-13-01-final.pdf
²According to a report of Meticulous Research, the net worth of the insect sector may reach 8 billion USD by 2030.
³The adoption a new legislation may take place by the end of 2022/1st half of 2023. The EU institutions intend to define some criteria for insect to producers to get certified as ‘organic’ under the EU organic legislation.
About Alice Grassi
Alice Grassi, originally from northern Italy, since June 2020 has been dealing with the external and internal communication of the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF). She has an educational background in international relations and EU policy matters. From 2018 to 2019, Ms Grassi worked at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) dealing with project management, communication and food safety. Since 2021, she has been working as Communication Manager at IPIFF.About Christophe Derrien
Christophe Derrien is the Secretary General of the International Platform of Insects for Food & Feed (IPIFF). Mr Derrien started to work for IPIFF in January 2015 and manages the Secretariat since August 2016. Native from Brittany in western France, Christophe has a legal background, with a specialization in EU and agri-food legislation. After performing several professional missions at the French Ministry of Agriculture and at the European Commission (DG AGRI), Christophe has worked for the EU umbrella organization of European farmers and agri-cooperatives (Copa-Cogeca), from 2009 until 2013. Then, Christophe worked as a consultant on EU projects related to food sustainability (from 2013 until 2016).