Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Insect farming can play part in future of our food
INSECT farming could be a “pivotal player” in future food systems, a Devon scientist and entrepreneur has said, but more research and innovation is needed to make it a success.
Dr Olivia Champion presented the findings of her report, ‘Can carbonneutral insects be farmed profitably?’, at the 2023 Nuffield Farming Conference in Exeter last month.
During her scholarship, Olivia travelled to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Germany, the Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and Canada.
Olivia aimed to understand the market readiness for insect ingredients as food and feed, identify the main costs and understand the regulatory landscape. Edible insects offer an alternative protein source suitable for both humans and animals,” she says. “Insects require less space, water, and emit fewer greenhouse gases. However, my research journey revealed that producing insects for food and feed is constrained by limitations in scale, high costs, and inconsistent quality. Improvements like automation, enhanced insect genetics, and optimized diets are crucial for advancing insect farming.”
During her study, Olivia found that carbon-neutral insect farming is possible when waste unsuitable for animal consumption becomes insect food. Many insect farms presently utilise soya-based materials, which contradicts the goal of reducing soya in animal feed.
Price is currently the main barrier to market acceptance of insect ingredients for both food and feed, Olivia says, with the cost price of insects per tonne being five to ten times more than the cost price of soya.
She added: “Utilising livestock manure as insect food could be a strategic alternative, subject to careful risk assessment. Blending waste as a substrate for insects and integrating renewable energy can establish carbon-neutral insect farming as a viable option.
“With rising living costs and changing spending patterns, the demand for costly and unfamiliar insect-based foods and feeds might stay limited. But overcoming challenges through ongoing research and innovation could position insect farming as a pivotal player in constructing sustainable and nutritious food systems.”