Wind direction: Insects are becoming more active in pet nutrition

Twenty-five years ago, Julieta Ramos Elorduy, a professor at the Institute of Biology at the National University of Mexico, published Creeping Food: A Guide to Edible Insects, a sustainable source of protein that is common in most other parts of the world. Although the practice of eating insects has not emerged. However, for pets, this is attractive. Scout & Zoe made jerky for canines in 2019 using black fly larvae (BSF L). It was then that the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) first introduced the BSFL as a potential dog food ingredient. In August 2021, AAFCO voted to approve its use in adult dog food, adding the approved use in Salmonella, poultry and pig feed. Currently, the BSFL is the only insect product that successfully passes the AAFCO component definition procedure. The feline usage is under review. Black flies have proved superior to other insects in many ways. Its larvae contain more nutrients than those of other insects, because mature insects do not eat and must live on these accumulated reserves. Black flies also have a greedy appetite to effectively convert feed. This supports a circular food chain that utilizes the organic waste stream otherwise it will not be used. Furthermore, its short life cycle allows for large-scale and long-term production. Although the BSFL may be a petThe most commonly used insects in food food, but other insects are also used in the United States and abroad. For example, Jimini in Berkeley, California, studies crickets and larvae.

01 Insect composition sustainability information

Less land and water were used when obtaining protein from smaller animals. This makes the insect protein source very sustainable. Grub and crickets are a very effective food source because they represent a fraction of the area needed for cattle farming. Water consumption is similar. Insects require only a fraction of the water required by cattle or chickens. The water system itself prevents waste, so we get mileage from every drop of water. Insect ingredients are just a more sustainable pet food, and sustainability is increasingly important to a growing number of pet parents. But it is crucial that pet food brands be honest and transparent, for example, to have a proven product carbon footprint. If not, then the insect green statement is often bad buzzword marketing, is meant to impress. Larvae can grow and be harvested in about seven days, and it takes about 18 months to raise and harvest cattle compared to raised beef. The land required to raise cattle is staggering compared to the crude BSFL footprint. It requires no extra water to eat and grow on fruit and vegetable litter. It releases zero-methane gas into the environment. Billions of larvae grow in a very compact space. Sustainability is only used in pet foods and snacksOne of the attractions of the insect component. Another fact is that when insect protein is used instead of whole muscle beef, chicken, pork, etc, these other meat will be available for human consumption, which will help feed a growing population in the future. Best of all, the insects are rich in nutrients. They are rich in all the good things a pet needs in their diet. Insects are enriched with the same essential amino acids as pets obtained from traditional meat. Insect proteins have a high digestibility, and in addition, insects provide essential fatty acids and minerals. When these alternative proteins are used in the formulation, they will label the package and help to obtain the desired nutrients. BSFL is a price economical protein compared to the current market price for chicken, turkey and beef. The larvae can be mixed with other proteins to alter the palatability of the product or to change the consistency. We did not see any significant difference in the shelf life of any product using larvae versus any other protein, if water activity was at appropriate levels. In any treatment, the treatment may be affected when the water activity exceeds the normal range.

02 Insect overseas innovation

In addition to the BSFL, other insect components are licensed for cat and dog food in Asia, Canada, and Europe. The global insect industry is cooperating through appropriate regulatory channels in the US to open up the market. Currently, suppliers are making investments to make the insect ingredients more attractive. Business Development Director Sean Madison, North America, Innovafeed in Paris, said: "" As pet owners want to take better care of their animals, especially as they increasingly see their pets as family members, pet food and snack makers are looking for new high-quality ingredients to meet the need for healthy and nutritious feed. In addition, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations predicts that protein shortages will reach 30 to 40 million tons by 2030, ensuring a sustainable source of protein is crucial for pet food manufacturers."Innovafeed Cultivate BSFL in large factories based on vertical, zero waste and circular mode farms. The company uses all parts of the insect. This includes producing two BSFL components for pet foods. The skimmed dry BSFL diet is a highly concentrated source of high-quality protein with a balanced amino acid profile. BSFL oil is a source of healthy fatty acids, especially medium-chain triglyceride lauric acid, which has antibacterial and antioxidant properties and can improve digestion. Insect components can act like any other conventional proteinQuality is used as oil source for pet feed and snacks, and there are many references in the literature describing their safety and effectiveness. Innovafeed Signed a cooperation agreement with Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) in Chicago in 2020 to build the worlds largest insect protein factory in Decatur, Illinois, in 2025, producing 60,000 tons of insect protein per year. Protix Provide four BSFL ingredients, suitable for wet foods and dry foods and snacks. There are shelf life protein powder, fresh and frozen pasteurized insect meat, and insect fat. A recent independent life cycle assessment by the prestigious German Lebensmiteltechnik Institute showed high sustainability scores for all four insect components. The focus of this study includes evidence that the CO 2 footprint and impact on global warming are 24 times lower when replacing insect meat for poultry meat. In addition, replacing coconut oil with insect fat in pet food brings more than 12 square meters of farmland back to nature per kilogram of lipid. Nsect, based in Evry Courcouronnes, France, produces animal feed from mealworms. Selection include high concentration protein products, protein hydrolysates and oils for dry pet food and wet pet food. CEO and founder Antoine Hubert said: " Use mealworms to guarantee quality nutrition,Highest protein content (71%). Ynsect Specifically for the pet food industry, producing appetizing, odorless and light brown ingredients with special nutritional characteristics. They have a low ash content and are also a source of linoleic acid and natural fibers."Hubert said:" Pet food with mealworms as protein sources can be regarded as a nutritional sustainable pet food; in fact, the partial replacement of more traditional protein sources can also improve food sustainability without affecting its nutritional quality. It can be used as the sole source of protein in pet food recipes or in combination with other protein sources to meet protein and amino acid requirements."Research shows that pets have multiple health benefits when they switch to a mealworm diet. This includes reducing skin diseases, improving fecal consistency, and lowering cholesterol. Not all mealworms are created and are equal. In a study recently published in the Journal of Animal Science (January 2023), researchers at the Department of Animal Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign assessed the amino acid composition, digestibility, and protein quality of the four mealworm components. To investigate species differences and processing effects, dietary components were derived from two species —— mericolor and yellow worms in whole, degreasing and hydrolytic forms. Composition by Ynsect provide. The overall results suggest that the mealworm-based components are of high quality protein origin. Because this study was conducted on roosters, additional studies in dogs and cats are necessary to confirm palatability and digestibility.

In short, the insect raw materials business is a relatively young industry. It has unlimited potential for both the earth and its pets.