1) Industrial insect farming: an alternative and sustainable source of protein
According to UN projections, the world's population is expected to increase by 2 billion over the next 30 years (from 7.7 billion today to 9.7 billion in 2050). In fact, this strong demographic growth will lead to a significant change in our consumption and eating habits over the next few decades.
The evolution of production methods in agriculture is at the heart of this issue: the FAO estimates that world food production will have to increase by 70% and meat production (pork, beef, poultry) will have to double to feed the world's inhabitants. This demographic challenge poses a number of questions, in particular the increase in animal protein requirements.
The interest of insect proteins
The increasing pressure on natural resources caused by our production and breeding methods is pushing researchers and economic actors to consider alternative sources of sustainable protein supply for human and animal food.
This urgency has led for several years to the recognition of the interest of insect proteins, in particular the black soldier fly (hermetia illucens) and the miller beetle (Tenebrio molitor).
Their production, which uses very few resources (water, land, food), significantly reduces the environmental footprint (GHG emissions, deforestation) of livestock production.
2) Will dried mealworms soon be part of our food?
As with any technological development, a certain number of regulatory constraints are imposed by the authorities in order to guarantee the food and health safety of a relatively new production method.
Since July 2017, the European Union has allowed the inclusion of insect proteins in the feed of farmed fish (aquaculture) and domestic animals.
The farming, processing and sale of edible insects are subject to rules introduced for "novel foods".
This "novel food" (food that has no history of consumption in the European Union before May 15, 1997) must adapt to the common ones of animal husbandry.
The miller beetle, an insect that is safe to eat
In January 2021, a new step was taken following the opinion of EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), which gave the green light to the consumption of food derived from a species of beetle, the miller beetle..
This same authority concluded that the larvae of this "mealworm", could be safely consumed "either as a whole dried insect or as a powder" (insect meal).
On the basis of this opinion, the European Commission will submit a draft proposal to the Member States in the course of 2021 to authorize the placing on the market of dried mealworms and derived products, and to specify the conditions for their marketing.
These new players are looking to the future by committing to a circular economy approach. Their ambition is to develop a complete biological value chain through the exploitation of the physiological capacities of insects.
To achieve this, they convert plant by-products into biomass, which will be sustainably transformed into proteins and lipids for fish and pet food. The organic matter recovered through this process will serve as a supplement for soil fertilization.
4) Processing insects at an industrial scale
Beyond the regulatory constraints and the reduction of the environmental footprint of farming, the industrialization of insect production is a major challenge for the sector's players.
In France and in the world, the black soldier fly (hermetia illucens) and the mealworm (tenebrio molitor) are the most used insects in insect farms and factories.
Their production involves different industrial models, which correspond to their characteristics (rearing time, protein and bio conversion rates, size of production units, energy requirements, types of inputs).
A growing number of economic players, large groups and startups, are interested in this booming market. Their ambition is to develop the breeding and processing of insects on an industrial scale, from the supply of raw materials to final processing.
