As Europe accelerates its transition toward a more resilient and sustainable food system, insect protein has emerged as a strategic pillar in the continent’s Protein Strategy. Following the European Parliament’s endorsement of the European Protein Strategy in late 2023, the spotlight is now on how this recognition translates into action. The International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) plays a central role in shaping this transition—bridging science, policy, and industry to unlock the full potential of the insect sector. In this interview, Steven Barbosa, Secretary-General of IPIFF, discusses the policy shifts driving the sector, the opportunities created by global market dynamics, and the regulatory reforms needed to position Europe as a global leader in sustainable protein production.
Secretary-General
IPIFF
The European Parliament accepted the European Protein Strategy in late 2023, highlighting the importance of domestic protein production. How has the insect protein sector developed since then, and what role has IPIFF played in aligning the sector with this strategy?
The Parliament’s Motion is a pivotal validation, formally recognising that Europe’s food security depends on a diversified protein supply. Now, the EU must act. To position Europe as a leader in circular and sustainable feed, immediate action is essential.
This momentum is the result of years of strategic effort. IPIFF has successfully positioned the insect sector at the heart of key EU frameworks—from the Farm to Fork Strategy to the Circular Economy Action Plan. The upcoming Bioeconomy Strategy and the renewal of the Common Agricultural and Fisheries Policies are critical opportunities to convert this recognition into tangible support.
IPIFF serves as the essential bridge between policy and action. We are engaging directly with Commissioners and policymakers, providing the data and expertise needed to turn these strategic commitments into reality.
On July 14 2025, at the Council on Agriculture and Food meeting, Dutch representatives urged the European Commission to revise current legislation to unlock the full potential of insect farming. How do you think this initiative will shape investor confidence and the regulatory future of the sector in Europe?
The recent Agriculture and Fisheries Council delivered a powerful correction to the European Commission’s vision for protein. EU Member States rejected a strategy disproportionately focused on plants, demanding a truly inclusive approach that embraces all sustainable solutions—including insect farming.
This political consensus is a game-changer for investors and innovators. It confirms that Europe is finally ready to back its ambitions with a regulatory environment fit for the 21st century. The Council didn’t just voice criticism; it laid out a clear action plan:
1. Cut the Red Tape: With countries like Sweden and Finland leading the call, the Council demanded faster novel food authorisations to get innovative proteins to market.
2. Prioritise European Production: Member States called for binding targets and CAP support to build a sovereign protein supply chain.
3. Embrace Circularity: The Netherlands highlighted the absurdity of current regulations that stifle insect farming—a sector that uniquely upcycles food waste into valuable feed.
This shift aligns perfectly with IPIFF’s advocacy. We welcome Commissioner Hansen’s commitment to address these points, recognising our sector’s immense potential.
The message from the Council was unequivocal: The future of EU protein is diverse, circular, and innovative. It’s now time for the Commission to act on this mandate and deliver a strategy that harnesses the full power of European innovation.
A recent LCA commissioned by DEFRA suggested that insect proteins could have a much greater impact on the climate than soybeans. Some stakeholders argue that the study has methodological limitations. How do you assess these findings, and what is IPIFF’s stance on providing reliable sustainability assessments for insect protein?
We welcome scientific scrutiny but share the UK Insect Bioconversion Association’s significant concerns about the DEFRA study’s methodology. Its conclusions are unrepresentative of the modern insect sector because they rely on outdated, small-scale data; ignore the core circularity of our waste-valorisation model; and were developed without industry input.
In conclusion, the DEFRA study is a snapshot of a past that no longer reflects the reality of a rapidly innovating industry. The true picture of insect protein is one of a circular, low-impact solution, and we are committed to providing the robust data to substantiate this. We stand ready to engage in an informed, science-driven dialogue on building a sustainable food future. Beyond critiquing flawed studies, we are proactively building the foundation for better ones.
China aims to reduce the share of soybean meal in animal feed to 10% by 2030 for greater self-sufficiency. The country is also promoting new sources, such as insect protein, as alternatives during this transition. How do you interpret this development in terms of global protein markets?
China’s new policy to reduce soybean imports is a pivotal signal of a strategic reordering in the global protein market. The EU should view this as a catalyst to enhance its own protein diversification and food sovereignty.
We see three key implications:
• A More Resilient Feed System: This marks a decisive shift away from a monolithic, soy-centric model. The future will be diversified and regional, with blocs like the EU leveraging local resources to bolster food security.
• A Global Catalyst for Alternatives: The scale of Chinese demand will accelerate innovation and investment in alternative proteins. Insect farming is uniquely positioned to benefit, as its efficient, decentralised production aligns with self-sufficiency goals.
• Validation of Strategic Autonomy: China’s move confirms that “protein self-sufficiency” is a top-tier geopolitical priority, a concern that resonates deeply with the ambitions of the EU Protein Strategy.
In this new context, a coordinated global effort is essential. IPIFF is proactively building a unified voice for the insect sector by collaborating with partner organisations worldwide, including in North America (NACIA), Asia (AFFIA), and China.
By aligning our scientific, regulatory, and market efforts across continents, we are ensuring the global insect community works in concert to promote sustainable growth and secure a resilient food future.
What role will insect protein play in Europe’s sustainable and self-sufficient food and feed systems by 2030? How do you foresee regulations and industry practices evolving?
By 2030, insect protein must evolve from a promising alternative into a strategic pillar of Europe’s sustainable food system. Its transformative potential lies in advancing three core EU objectives:
• A Driver of Circularity: Insects will be a primary solution for valorising millions of tonnes of agri-food waste into high-quality nutrients, creating a true circular bioeconomy.
• A Cornerstone of Food Security: As a home-grown, scalable protein, it will be a standard ingredient in animal feed, directly reducing Europe’s dependency on imported sources like soy.
• A Climate Solution: With a low environmental footprint, insect production requires less land and water, directly contributing to the EU’s climate and biodiversity goals.
To realise this vision, we must accelerate beyond current, slow authorisation processes. We need a streamlined, science-based framework that:
• Expands Substrate Approvals to include a broader list of safe, pre-approved agri-food by-products,
• Creates Efficient Novel Food Pathways for faster approval of new insect species and food applications,
• Defines Holistic End-Points to recognise the value of all insect-derived products, such as frass as a certified organic fertiliser.
The pace of Europe’s regulatory action will determine its leadership in the global bioeconomy. With the right support, insect protein can be a cornerstone of a more resilient and self-sufficient Europe by 2030.
Despite growing interest in alternative proteins, consumer concerns persist. What do you think are the main reasons for these concerns? Is it safety concerns, lack of awareness, or cultural barriers? What different steps can the industry take to improve consumer perception and trust?
This question allows me to highlight the distinct benefits of various insect-derived products, addressing the unique opportunities and consumer perspectives within each market segment.
INSECTS AS FOOD
Consumer hesitation in Western markets stems from a cultural and familiarity gap, not a lack of viability. To build acceptance, the industry is focused on:
• Transparent Communication: Demystifying production through open access to state-of-the-art, hygienic facilities and clarifying that insects are farmed under strict EU food safety standards, not wild-harvested.
• Strategic Integration: Introducing insect protein in familiar formats like pasta and protein bars, allowing consumers to benefit from its sustainability and nutrition without a cultural barrier.
The narrative is not about replacing meat but about diversifying our protein sources with a sustainable option that is already consumed by billions globally.
INSECTS FOR ANIMAL AND AQUAFEED
Insects are the ancestral diet for poultry, fish, and swine. There is nothing new in seeing a worm serving as bait to catch a fish or about seeing a chicken eating a worm. Their integration into feed provides a sustainable, home-grown protein that improves animal health and reduces the environmental footprint of livestock production, all while strengthening EU feed sovereignty.
INSECTS AS SOIL FERTILIZER
Insect frass is a powerful, organic soil amendment that completes the circular economy model. It enriches soil health, promotes plant growth, and provides a sustainable alternative to conventional fertilizers.
Insect farmers already work along with other livestock farmers, locally supplying to their own needs for animal feed and soil fertilizer.
INSECTS IN PET FOOD
Insect protein has rapidly emerged as a premium ingredient in pet food, valued for its high nutritional value, since it is a highly digestible, hypoallergenic source of protein and lipids. It is also valued for its inherent sustainability as it meets growing consumer demand for environmentally responsible pet care products.
Overall, by focusing on education and strategic market development, insect protein can deliver tangible benefits across the entire food system.
Outside of Europe, where do you see the greatest opportunities for insect protein? In Asia, Africa, or the Americas? How can IPIFF encourage international collaboration in this sector?
We see significant opportunities in all three regions, but for different reasons:
• Asia: Offers massive market scale, strong government support (e.g., China, Singapore, Thailand), and in many areas, a cultural precedent for eating insects.
• North America: Has a dynamic tech and investment ecosystem, a strong pet food industry, and consumers who are early adopters of novel food trends.
• Africa: Presents an opportunity for local, low-tech insect farming to address malnutrition and create circular economies at the community level, using local organic waste.
As mentioned above, IPIFF is working closely with its counterpart organizations representing different continents to encourage international collaboration. We value knowledge exchange via facilitating dialogues between EU and international regulators to harmonise standards and share best practices and global advocacy, representing the global insect sector in international forums like FAO and CODEX to promote the role of insects in global food security.
In your opinion, what will be the biggest opportunities and challenges facing the insect protein industry over the next five years, and what advice would you give to the alternative proteins sector in general?
Our sector is poised for transformative growth, driven by three powerful opportunities:
• Regulatory Tailwinds: The EU Protein Strategy and a global push for protein self-sufficiency are creating an unprecedented policy environment for sustainable solutions.
• Market Expansion: We are on the verge of unlocking massive new markets. Key developments include authorising a wider range of feeding substrates, approving insect frass as a certified organic fertilizer across the EU, and exploring its potential in biogas production and for export.
• Technological Leap: Next-generation production systems are emerging, focusing on greater automation and energy efficiency to dramatically improve scalability and reduce costs.
The Central Challenge is achieving Cost-Parity but with the right policies, can be easily and swiftly achieved. While the momentum is strong, achieving cost-competitiveness with conventional proteins remains our primary obstacle.
We view recent EU initiatives to promote sustainable feed in aquaculture as a critical and promising step in the right direction. Once again, the positioning of China in this regard, teaches a valuable lesson to Europe.
My advice to the entire alternative protein ecosystem is built on two core principles: The first is to collaborate, not compete. Our shared goal is to displace unsustainable conventional proteins, not each other. There is more than enough room for plant-based, fermented, and insect proteins to co-exist and complement one another.
At IPIFF, we embody this through our work in the InnovProtein EU Alliance with partners from the yeast and algae sectors, and by aligning with key industries like animal and pet food production. Together, we build a more resilient and sustainable future.
The second is to champion transparency and science. Trust is our most valuable currency, and we must build it through rigorous, independent science and honest communication—openly discussing both the profound benefits and the existing challenges of our solutions.
Finally, looking at IPIFF’s own agenda, what will be your top priorities in dialogue with EU policymakers in the coming years?
IPIFF is engaging with EU policymakers to ensure the upcoming financial and policy frameworks unlock the full potential of the insect sector. Our focus is on three strategic priorities for 2028-2032:
Champion a Smart Regulatory Framework: We are leading the call to authorise a wider range of organic side-streams for insect feed. This is the single most important step to unlock the sector’s circular potential and global competitiveness.
While our academic members generate the necessary science, we must urgently address the regulatory bottlenecks that currently hinder progress.
Set Sustainable Standards for the Agri-Food Sector: The EU must apply its sustainability ambition to food systems as it has for energy and transport. The future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Fisheries Policy must incorporate mandatory sustainability criteria for feed and fertiliser, creating a guaranteed market for EU-made, sustainable ingredients like ours.
Promote Our Circular Products: We are ensuring that insect frass is recognised as a high-quality, circular fertiliser. The upcoming revision of the EU Fertilising Products Regulation is a direct opportunity to create an EU-wide market for this bio-solution, boosting both farmers and our producers.
Securing Strategic Status for the Insect Sector: The Net-Zero Industry Act and Clean Industrial Deal already prioritise the very circular, bio-based solutions that insect production delivers. Granting our sector strategic status is the essential next step to unlock the public and private investment needed to scale up and meet shared EU policy goals.
The foundation is laid; now is the time to build. We advocate for concrete measures to translate policy alignment into action:
Create Binding Market Demand: Introduce minimum incorporation rates for insect protein in animal feed. This market-driven mechanism is crucial for de-risking investments and scaling production.
Ensure Direct Support for Insect Farmers: The upcoming Protein Strategy must follow the precedent of the 2018 Plant Protein Report, ensuring our producers are explicitly recognised and supported under the CAP post-2027.
Modernise Regulation for Competitiveness: Expand Substrate Authorisations: Fast-track the approval of a broader range of safe, validated agri-food side-streams.
Streamline the Novel Food Process: Reform the current opaque and inefficient system to prevent delays that put European companies and jobs at risk.
About Steven Barbosa
With a solid background working with EU institutions for almost 20 years, Steven Barbosa is an experienced policy professional with a strong background in EU affairs, advocacy, and international relations. Currently serving as Secretary General at IPIFF (International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed), he has over a decade of experience in shaping EU policies. In previous positions he has worked within and towards EU institutions such as European Parliament, Council of the EU and European Commission.
