The LCA study shows that the land and water consumption as well as the CO2 emissions for its insect-based ingredients are significantly lower than for conventional ingredients such as soy protein concentrate, palm kernel oil or fishmeal.
According to the results of the DIL run, the Dutch company’s insect meal ProteinX (with 1.149 kg CO2 equivalent) has a carbon footprint almost seven times smaller than soy protein concentrate (with 7.5 kg CO2 equivalent) used in livestock and aqua feed .
In addition, Flytilizer, Protix’s insect-based fertilizer, had only 0.02 kg of CO2 equivalent per kg of product, according to the data read.
The DIL report also found that each kilogram of ProteinX reduces water use by 330 liters (190 liters versus 520 liters for soy protein concentrate), the company said.
Replacing coconut oil with LipidX in pet and livestock feed gives back to nature over 12m2 of farmland for every kilogram of fat. LipidX uses 0.898 m2 of land compared to coconut oil’s 12.98 m2, the company reported.
Kees Aarts, CEO and co-founder of Protix, said the results confirm the sustainability of its insect products. “We are now in a position to build on our results and expand internationally. With new international production facilities, we are confident of achieving even better sustainability results.”
The developer outlined how he is also in the process of building a broader scientific base for his portfolio by collaborating with customers, scientific and academic institutions and other stakeholders.
rearing of substrates
Meanwhile, over 150 participants from Europe and beyond gathered at the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) for their annual event in Brussels yesterday.
This conference was attended by several high-level speakers who are experts in the fields of insect production and other agri-food sectors, as well as representatives of the EU Commission, the EU Parliament and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
“The role of alternative proteins such as insects can help reduce our dependency on critical feeds and mineral fertilizers and support the transition to sustainable food systems, while also helping to address the increasing food security challenges following the Russian invasion of Ukraine .” commented IPIFF President Adriana Casillas in her opening speech.
The keynote speaker, Francisco Reviriego Gordejo, Head of the Animal Health Unit at DG SANTE, underlined the reforms so far under the EU’s Farm to Fork strategy that have helped to support the growth of the insect sector, including the approval of insect proteins for Pig and poultry feed and establishment of basic standards for insect droppings. He also discussed ongoing steps to further exploit the circulatory potential of insects, including the idea of using ex-food containing meat and fish as a substrate for insects.
MEP Martin Hlaváček stressed the need to expand the range of substrates available for insect production as well.
“Diversifying the range of approved substrates used in insect farming is seen as key to reducing the footprint of insect farming while also representing a promising way to address the problem of food waste,” says IPIFF’s Antoine Hubert.
