Insect Protein

AIC is closely involved with the UK Government initiative on insect biomass. AIC is engaged in order to express the feed industry view that it is interested in all new potential sources of protein so long as they satisfy the industry’s requirements for:

• “The future of feed: a WWF Roadmap to accelerating insect protein in UK feeds”  [PDF] – AIC presented the feed industry’s viewpoint at the launch of this roadmap.
• Feed safety – the industry will only consider the use of protein from assured suppliers. This means that the supplier has to demonstrate rigorous control of feed material production, testing for contaminants and other anti-nutritional factors, the absence of ruminant DNA etc. This is obviously particularly dependent on the substrate used. Risk of disease carry over is a concern.
• Protein quality – the industry requires consistent and specific protein quality that matches animal nutritional requirements. Processing technique in relation to Animal By-products is relevant here. Consistent nutrient analysis is needed.
• Manufacturing aspects - Issues such as stability, homogeneity (in terms of mixing), palatability all need to be addressed.
• Volume – regular and reliable sources of high volumes of protein are required.
• Commercially viable – new sources must compete favourably with currently available proteins.
• Market acceptance – the feed industry is unlikely to use protein sources that might compromise the demand for their customers’ (livestock producers) products. Retailers and consumer groups must be involved in any supply chain assessment of new protein sources which may be considered ‘sensitive’.
• Legal position - in the EU amendments made in 2021 to Regulation 999/2001 permit the feeding of insect protein to pigs, poultry and fish. These provision also apply to Northern Ireland. In Great Britain the retained provisions of Regulation 999/2001 only permit the feeding of insect protein to fish.

See also:

• “The Insect Biomass Industry for Animal Feed – the Case for UK-based and Global Business” 
• Will insect protein be a viable protein substitute for UK livestock diets
• FAO (2013) Forestry Paper 171 – Edible insects – Future Prospects for food and feed security
• The IPIFF Guide on Good Hygiene Practice for European Union (EU) producers of insects as food and feed (2019)
• Press release – “Entocycle secure government funding to accelerate emergent insect industry in the UK”.