petfoodpro 3/2023

Insects in Pet Food: Do Insect
Larvae Outcompete Classic
Protein Sources?
INGREDIENTS
The demand for insect based pet food is growing in global
markets. Forecasts predict significant growth rates for pet food
with ingredients derived from insects in the coming years. Pet
owners desire the best possible nutrition for their four-legged
companions. However, pet foods with a high meat content
regularly have an unfavorable environmental footprint. Customers
are becoming increasingly aware of this trait. Insect based feeds
may help to significantly improve the ecological footprint of pet
food. Wholesome insect granules contain valuable nutrients and
thus equally offer benefits for animal health and the environment.
Insect based pet food market suggests enormous
potential
With rising protein demand for food and feed, increasing
uncertainty in global commodity markets, and not least as a result
of dramatic climatic changes, demands for alternative, regionally
produced nutrients are growing.
Insect based feeds are projected to grow at an average annual rate
of 9.3 percent in the market through 2030 (Future Market Insights,
2021). These forecasts are also in line with consumer attitudes:
In recent studies, up to 50 percent of the pet owners surveyed
already stated that they could very well imagine insect based
feeds as an alternative for their dogs and cats.
HIGHLY EFFICIENT FEED CONVERSION
INSECTS POULTRY PORK
Land use (m 2 /kg)
Water use (l/kg)
Feed conversion
(DM feed/kg fresh mass)
Fig. 1: Insects are the most efficient users of precious raw materials
In this light, many pet owners are increasingly keen to ensure
that what they fill their four-legged friends' bowls with originates
from sustainable sources. As an alternative to pork, poultry or fish,
insects in pet food offer numerous advantages:
The range of insect based pet food already is correspondingly
large: Products range from snacks and chews to classic dry and
wet food varieties as well as special hypoallergenic feeds that can
be purchased exclusively from veterinary practices.
Technology & Marketing
Technology & Marketing
In particular, products based on Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) are
becoming increasingly popular. Compared to mealworms, they
can not only be produced more cost-effectively and sustainably.
Their nutritional spectrum, with higher levels of calcium and
phosphorus, for example, also proves advantageous.
Technology & Marketing
Technology & Marketing
Contributing to sustainability in pet food
The production of food for around 25 million dogs and cats in
German households alone not only leaves an unfavorable footprint
on the eco-balance of domestic agriculture. It also contributes to
global environmental impacts: Much of the soy used to provide
protein for meat-supplying livestock originates from regions
where valuable natural areas are cleared for its cultivation. Social
tensions in the countries of origin and climatic changes worldwide
clearly show that there are limits to this approach.
Insects can save natural raw materials, especially large
amounts of water.
Insects can recycle residual materials from agriculture
and the food industry into high-quality ingredients.
Regionally reared insects can reduce transport distances
and greenhouse gas emissions.
Thanks to vertical farming, significantly less space is
required for insect fattening than in conventional animal
husbandry.
Insect larvae - a high-quality and healthy source
of nutrients.
To dogs and cats the following applies as well: selected ingredients
in food support important metabolic functions and promote
vitality.
Issue 3 2023
21