May 10, 2016

ForFarmers joins research on use of insects as animal feed ingredients

 

The use of insects in animal feed and human food can be a sustainable alternative to other sources of protein and fat, according to ForFarmers.

Hence, the company participates in a research with Wageningen UR, with the purpose of determining the quality of insects for use in animal feed and /or human food.

Researchers are looking at, for example, any possible build-up and / or secretion of chemicals by insects following the use of new raw materials in insect feed.

By-products from the human food and drinks industries are widely used as animal feed ingredients.  As a result, they play an important role in the sustainable production of high quality protein.  However, legislation means that not all potential by-products can be used. For example, certain expired products from supermarkets are not allowed to be used as feed ingredients so these products are either used in biomass plants or disposed away.

The goal of the project is to grow insects safely using these waste streams. In particular, the study will look at whether there is any possible accumulation of some micronutrients or secretion of certain compounds by the insects.  The potential is for insects to either be consumed directly by humans or used as a feed ingredient which is high in protein and oil so particularly useful in young animal feed.  This could lead to a highly sustainable source of quality protein.

Besides ForFarmers and Wageningen UR, partners in this study are insect producers Proti-Farm R&D BV, Protix Biosystems and Koppert Biological Systems.

ForFarmers participates in this project by offering knowledge and experience in the field of feed consumption. In addition to contributions from these companies, the project is being financed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in the Netherlands through the AgriFood Top Sector.