There is growing global interest in the use of insects as a highly digestible natural source of protein for poultry feed.
This market segment is small but growing. Experts believe that insect proteins will grow exponentially in the next few years as the poultry and livestock industry learns more about the benefits.
Benefits of insect protein
In the wild, poultry will naturally eat insects, considered to be a protein-rich food source high in energy such as lauric acid, a C-12 saturated fatty acid with demonstrated value-added, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
“We are farmers. We are doing exactly the same thing as the poultry industry. We are hatching eggs. We make the eggs grow and we take care of what hatches,” said Benjamin Armenjon, general manager, pet food/animal health & nutrition, Ynsect.
Automating insect production
Automation is an important component of the insect industry.
“Basically, robots take care of the insects. They know what they have to do, when they have to do it and they can even predict what they have to do the next day,” he explained.
For example, the insects are reared in connected trays. These trays feature smart sensors that monitor and track when feed or water is needed, etc.
Minimizing waste
The use of insects to bioconvert by-products from other food production, like food waste, manure and other agricultural waste streams, could potentially minimize waste and upcycle nutrients, improving the sustainability of the poultry supply chain. Today, the European Union (EU) sets strict guidelines about what insects bred for animal feed are fed.
“We use primarily byproduct coming from the wheat industry,” Armenjon said. “That’s super important because at the end of the day, it’s a question of quality, tradition and the final product.”
In addition, insects can be bred in significant numbers in large-scale factory conditions that require a smaller environmental footprint than soybean meal and fishmeal with reduced land and water use and waste and pollution emissions.
