Insect protein has been part of the industry conversation for years. What has shifted is that regulation is now in place, authorized species are defined, and the ingredient has a proven technical fit for those formulating feed for aquaculture, pets, and farm animals.
The Problem It Solves
Rising fishmeal and fish oil prices have pushed the industry toward plant-based alternatives. The tradeoff, as Iberinsect notes, is a real one: lower palatability, antinutritional factors, and an amino acid and fatty acid profile that falls short for many species.
Insect meal sits in a different position — one that, according to the same source, could partially replace both fishmeal and plant-based ingredients in current formulations.
A Nutritional Profile Worth Looking At
Galinsect, a Spanish insect farm specializing in Tenebrio molitor, puts concrete numbers to what makes this species interesting for feed formulation: around 53% high biological value protein and approximately 25% fat, made up of mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids including omega-3, omega-6, oleic and linoleic acid. The meal also contains chitin, which in small doses has shown positive effects on the immune system across a wide range of animal species.
Technical Fit With Existing Production Lines
One of the practical arguments for insect meal is operational. According to Iberinsect, it mixes easily with other feed components — ground grains, soy — and can be processed into pellets using standard equipment. No need to redesign production lines. It integrates into existing workflows.
Aquaculture: The Most Advanced Segment Regulatorily
Since July 2017, EU legislation has authorized the use of processed animal protein from insects in aquaculture feed. Seven species are approved: black soldier fly, house fly, yellow mealworm, lesser mealworm, house cricket, tropical house cricket, and Jamaican field cricket. All classified, as Iberinsect points out, as farmed insects with a status equivalent to conventional livestock.
The European market is significant in volume. Spain, alongside the UK, France, Italy and Greece, accounts for around 75% of total EU aquaculture production.
Pet Food: The Door Is Already Open
In pet food, no additional regulatory hurdles apply. Iberinsect confirms that Tenebrio molitor meal is already authorized for use in pet food, making it one of the most accessible entry points for manufacturers looking to incorporate insect-derived ingredients into current formulations.
The Academic Backing
A study by the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, published in Food & Function and covered by Revista Alimentaria, evaluated meals from six different insect species and found significant nutritional value alongside techno-functional properties relevant to feed formulation — including oil retention and emulsification capacity — that directly affect the texture and stability of the final product.
Regulation for livestock and poultry is still developing and remains one of the key areas to watch.
Sources
- Iberinsect (2020). Insect meal, the food innovation that will change global aquaculture. iberinsect.com
- Aguilera, Y. et al. (2021). Insect flours: evaluation of their healthy properties. Revista Alimentaria nº 526 / Food & Function, UAM.
- Galinsect. Interview with CEO Rubén Recamán Guisande.
