Europe’s sustainability challenge will not be solved by importing more plant-based protein from overseas or by spreading misinformation about homegrown industries, but by scaling the innovation already taking place within our borders.
Secretary-General
IPIFF – International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed
Insect farming offers Europe a science-backed, circular and homegrown protein solution. Grounded in rigorous Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and aligned with the EU’s sustainability ambitions, the sector should play a pivotal role in sustainable innovation – reshaping feed, food, and the bioeconomy from the inside out.
As the European Union sharpens its focus on circularity, resilience, and food security, the insect farming sector has become a strategic player. This homegrown industry has been the fastest-growing source of sustainable and alternative protein production in Europe – and it is time for the European Union to fully embrace its role in this transformation.
At the heart of this story is science – particularly the application of robust LCAs to measure the environmental performance of insect production systems. But this is also a story of innovation, circularity, and how Europe’s agri-food sector can meet today’s sustainability demands with tomorrow’s solutions.
SCIENCE, NOT SPECULATION: THE ROLE OF LCAs IN ASSESSING SUSTAINABILITY
Scientific rigour, particularly in the form of LCAs, is a foundational pillar of the European insect sector. These assessments evaluate the environmental footprint of production systems across their full life cycle – including land and water use, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy inputs. Hopefully, these would also take into account the broader ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ externalities associated with the production, transformation and transport of the considered products, e.g. by assessing how these activities influence local biodiversity and affect the well-being and livelihoods of nearby communities.
Insects are, by design, resource-efficient. They require significantly less land and water than conventional livestock, produce fewer emissions, and thrive on bio-based by-products that would otherwise go to waste. These advantages have been validated by numerous peer-reviewed LCAs conducted across Europe – with data representing a wide variety of species, substrates, and industrial models.
Yet, despite this science-based approach, we are witnessing a troubling rise in misinformation. Some actors outside the insect industry, without access to representative EU-wide datasets, are publishing distorted analyses or extrapolating generalisations from incomparable contexts and general literature, thereby excluding relevant primary data generated by operators who are producing at scale and who are present across various geographies. This often leads to conclusions that are not only scientifically unsound but may serve narrow business agendas. Moreover, these assessments currently exclude forward-looking scenarios, given that the industrialisation of the insect sector is still evolving. Its sustainability credentials could therefore only be adequately measured once large-scale production has been achieved (amongst a representative number of companies), and relevant EU regulatory openings will have materialised (e.g. authorisation for using meat and fish containing former foodstuffs as substrates for farmed insects) – in the next few years.
What these narratives sometimes omit is that LCAs for insect farming are not one-size-fits-all. Environmental performance varies widely depending on the species (e.g., Hermetia illucens, Tenebrio molitor, cricket species), the production model, the feedstock used, and the targeted end-product (feed, food, pet food, fertiliser, etc.). These also often omit to encompass all co-products and by-products generated through the production process, such as insect frass used as a fertiliser product. These materials can be efficiently upcycled through a wide range of applications, thus maximising the circularity potential of the covered activities and reducing the overall environmental footprint.
Comparing an LCA from tropical small-scale production using kitchen waste with that of a European vertical farm optimised for feed is not just scientifically flawed – it misleads policy, partners, and public discourse.
If we are to talk about LCAs, we must do so honestly. Any actor claiming to assess the sustainability of insect production activities must acknowledge this diversity, or risk replacing science with speculation.
CIRCULARITY AT THE CORE: A SYSTEMIC APPROACH TO RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
European insect farming is a living example of the circular economy in action. It turns low-value and underused organic streams – such as former foodstuffs – into high-value protein, lipids, and organic fertilisers. This efficient bioconversion process reduces waste and enhances nutrient cycling, while drastically lowering the need for virgin inputs.
But the circularity does not stop at the farmgate. Insect producers are forming partnerships with local farmers, as well as with other food chain partners, for instance – food processing companies, energy providers, logistics operators, and waste managers to ensure that sustainability is embedded across the entire value chain. From using renewable energy and district heating, to co-locating facilities near food producers and ensuring traceability and local use by crop producers in by-product streams, the model is collaborative and circular by design.
This integration is not just about ticking environmental boxes – it makes economic sense. It adds value, creates regional jobs, and increases food system resilience at a time when Europe can ill afford to depend on fragile supply chains for protein.
EUROPE’S LEADERSHIP: A HOMEGROWN SUCCESS STORY
Today, the EU insect sector is the world’s most advanced, both in terms of regulatory development and industrial capacity. Over 150 production sites are operating across Europe, employing thousands of workers and producing high-quality ingredients for feed, food, and fertiliser markets.
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.
