Review: Recent advances in insect-based feeds: from animal farming to the acceptance of consumers and stakeholders

Sogari, Giovanni; Oddon, Sara Bellezza; Gasco, Laura; Huis, A. van; Spranghers, Thomas; Mancini, Simone

doi:10.1016/j.animal.2023.100904

Cited by 21 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…An explanation to this could be due to the growing attention toward animal nutrition only in recent years, thus leading to a more pronounced interest in younger professionals than their older counterparts ( 41 ). However, while many studies evaluating the acceptance of alternative feeds tend to focus on assessing consumers’ opinion on the final product, there is a notable gap in analyzing the perceptions of the stakeholders ( 42 ). Therefore, efforts aimed at identifying the key factors driving preferences for alternative feedstuffs among these professionals are crucial for developing appropriate marketing strategies and coherent educational programs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of age, gender, and willingness to adopt former foodstuffs on the perception of Italian farm animal veterinarians

Diaz Vicuna,

Srikanthithasan,

Odore

et al. 2024

Front. Vet. Sci.

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BackgroundVeterinarians play an essential role in improving animal care, as they are often viewed as trusted advisors, particularly in relation to disease control and management; however, little is known about veterinarians’ perceptions and attitudes toward alternative feeds. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of age, gender, and willingness to adopt on the attitudes of livestock veterinarians toward the use of alternative feeds in farm animals.MethodsA total of 136 active veterinarians completed the online survey, distributed through the main veterinary associations in Italy. The questionnaire contained items on dietary recommendation, awareness, benefit and safety perceptions, and a willingness to adopt former foodstuffs (FFs), complemented with socio-demographic questions.ResultsAlmost 90% of the population reported a willingness to adopt FFs as feed. Men and women did not share the same perceptions of the nutritional composition of FFs, while the importance of product availability was found to be a key factor driving the age difference. Participants willing to adopt FFs as feed linked positive attitudes to attributes such as digestibility, energy intake, and positive social implications.ConclusionOur findings provide a basic background on the current use of the FFs in Italy and suggest the need for the development of educational programs and marketing strategies to enhance the acceptability of FFs in farm animals to ultimately promote the transition toward more sustainable animal production. This study has limitations, including the number of recorded responses and reliance on national estimates. Future research is needed to investigate the perceptions of farmers and animal nutritionist from different countries. This could provide a more detailed picture of the current situation in Europe about the potential of using FFs in farm animals’ feed, thus further contributing toward a greener and safer livestock production sector.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of age, gender, and willingness to adopt former foodstuffs on the perception of Italian farm animal veterinarians

Diaz Vicuna,

Srikanthithasan,

Odore

et al. 2024

Front. Vet. Sci.

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“…Inconsistencies in quality are particularly problematic when considering the final use of most large-scale insect farms, which produce insect meal used as feed for livestock and aquaculture (Dunn, 2021). Since an insect's nutritional profile is contingent on its diet, achieving consistent values will be a major challenge for the insect sector, as they need to match the nutritional values of conventional feeds (Sogari et al, 2023) while aquaculture and livestock producers require stable and consistent nutritional contents. The same issue arises for the use of frass as a fertiliser, as its effects on soil microbial quality, carbon release, and plant growth vary significantly depending on the substrate used to grow larvae (Gebremikael et al, 2022).…”

Section: Variability In Waste Supplymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For insect agriculture to successfully contribute to a sustainable food system, the use of insects in treating food waste needs to be environmentally sustainable and economically viable. The environmental impacts of insect farming depend mainly on the type of substrate used for feeding insects (Halloran et al, 2016;Lundy and Parrella, 2015;Oonincx, 2021;Oonincx and de Boer, 2012;Salomone et al, 2017;Smetana et al, 2019;Sogari et al, 2023;Vauterin et al, 2021). Utilising waste as a substrate might lead to reduced environmental impacts and support a circular economy (Moruzzo et al, 2021;Smetana, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is turning food waste into insect feed an uphill climb? A review of persistent challenges

Biteau,

Bry-Chevalier,

Crummett

et al. 2024

Preprint

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One major hurdle for our current food system is the enormous amount of food that goes to waste. Insect farming has been proposed as a potential solution, offering one way to turn waste into agricultural resources such as livestock and aquaculture feed. In this article, we review the types of materials currently used to raise insects at commercial scales, and we examine whether those materials compete with conventional animal agriculture or other economic sectors. While the idea of turning trash into treasure for insect agriculture may be appealing in theory, the reality is more challenging. Only some types of insects can be farmed using food waste, while others perform poorly. The inconsistent nature of food waste, in terms of both supply and quality, makes food waste poorly suited for large-scale insect farms that need to produce a consistently high-quality product. This means that insect-farming companies tend to rely on the same high-quality feeds already sought by other industries. Furthermore, competition exists for the types of food waste that could be used by insect agriculture, with agriculture, aquaculture, pet food manufacturing, and biogas production already seeking to use this waste. The types of food waste that can be used in insect farming are limited due to risks that contamination poses to food safety. To truly leverage food waste in insect agriculture, especially considering the dispersed nature of household and municipal waste streams, substantial logistical investments would be required. Overall, turning food waste into insect feed faces a range of persistent challenges that makes the widespread use of insects in addressing food waste an uphill climb.

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“…Rather than relying on wild collection, which is both inefficient and disrupts wildlife ecosystems, intensive farming systems have been developed to farm insects on a large scale in controlled environments [76]. Modern insect breeding system creates the best growth conditions for insects by adjusting factors such as temperature, humidity, and light to ensure that environmental factors no longer hinder the growth of insects and improve the growth and maturity speed of insects [77,78]. What's more, the nutritional composition of insects is influenced by their feed, so scientists have developed insect feed adapted to the growth of insects to ensure that they get enough nutrition [79,80].…”

Section: Development Of Insect Farming Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Edible Insects: A New Sustainable Nutritional Resource Worth Promoting

Li,

Mao,

et al. 2023

Foods

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Edible insects are a highly nutritious source of protein and are enjoyed by people all over the world. Insects contain various other nutrients and beneficial compounds, such as lipids, vitamins and minerals, chitin, phenolic compounds, and antimicrobial peptides, which contribute to good health. The practice of insect farming is far more resource-efficient compared to traditional agriculture and animal husbandry, requiring less land, energy, and water, and resulting in a significantly lower carbon footprint. In fact, insects are 12 to 25 times more efficient than animals in converting low-protein feed into protein. When it comes to protein production per unit area, insect farming only requires about one-eighth of the land needed for beef production. Moreover, insect farming generates minimal waste, as insects can consume food and biomass that would otherwise go to waste, contributing to a circular economy that promotes resource recycling and reuse. Insects can be fed with agricultural waste, such as unused plant stems and food scraps. Additionally, the excrement produced by insects can be used as fertilizer for crops, completing the circular chain. Despite the undeniable sustainability and nutritional benefits of consuming insects, widespread acceptance of incorporating insects into our daily diets still has a long way to go. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the nutritional value of edible insects, the development of farming and processing technologies, and the problems faced in the marketing of edible insect products and insect foods to improve the reference for how people choose edible insects.

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Review: Recent advances in insect-based feeds: from animal farming to the acceptance of consumers and stakeholders

Cited by 21 publications

References 70 publications

Influence of age, gender, and willingness to adopt former foodstuffs on the perception of Italian farm animal veterinarians

Influence of age, gender, and willingness to adopt former foodstuffs on the perception of Italian farm animal veterinarians

Is turning food waste into insect feed an uphill climb? A review of persistent challenges

Edible Insects: A New Sustainable Nutritional Resource Worth Promoting

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