THE EUROPEAN INSECT SECTOR TODAY: CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AND REGULATORY LANDSCAPE - IPIFF vision paper on the future of the insect sector ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
THE EUROPEAN INSECT SECTOR TODAY:
CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES
AND REGULATORY LANDSCAPE
IPIFF vision paper on the future of
the insect sector towards 2030
Global and European perspective
With the world population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, food
production needs to increase by 70%1. Yet already today, the food
system is under pressure. Insect protein responds to the demand for
sustainable and high-quality protein to feed a growing population.
One-third of food is wasted, Insects also promote nutrient
either rotting in consumers’ uptake and show promising
and retailers’ bins or spoiling results in terms of animal growth
due to poor transportation performance. This supports
and harvesting their use as a complementary
practices, according source material in feed formula
to the Food and for aquaculture and livestock
Agriculture Organization animals.
(FAO)2. In the EU alone,
approximately 88 million Some insects also contain
1/3 of food is tonnes of food is wasted per bioactive components like lauric
wasted year and this is expected to acid, antimicrobial peptides
rise3. and chitin which have immune-
boosting properties. Preliminary
Global demand for animal products results have shown that certain
is expected to more than double bioactive insect components
between 2000 and 2050 so animal led to improved immunity and
feed production is increasingly reduced mortality rates when
competing for resources with used in aquaculture feed e.g. for
human food and fuel production. shrimp and salmon.
Today, the majority of animal feed
2 in the EU is imported. Insect protein Preliminary studies7 have
is approved for fish farming in the shown that insects have a
EU and could provide a solution to lower environmental footprint
feeding other livestock in the future. compared to other livestock
animals. Insect producers
The market for insect production is and research institutes are
growing steadily with economists collaborating to generate more
forecasting a 20% increase over data.
the next five years4.
Insects as animal feed
1 Food and Agriculture Organization
Insects are a natural component
(FAO): http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/ of the diets of animals such as
templates/wsfs/docs/expert_paper/ carnivorous fish, poultry and pigs.
How_to_Feed_the_World_in_2050.pdf They are high in protein – from 50%
2 FAO: http://www.fao.org/save-food/
to 82% (as a dry product)5 – and
resources/keyfindings/en can be added to animal feed – with
3 Estimates of European food waste up to 40% insect content for fish
levels (2016): http://www.eu-fusions. feed and 30% for chicken feed.
org/phocadownload/Publications/
Estimates%20of%20European%20
food%20waste%20levels.pdf Insect products have an amino acid
4 profile that makes them highly-
Meticulous Research (2018): https://
www.meticulousresearch.com/edible- digestible for animals. The amino
insects-market-2023 acid profiles of most insect species
5 Rumpold and Schluter (2013) tested in feed formula for farmed
Levels may vary across species and fish show a good correlation with
production processes (Fasakin et al. the fish’s specific needs6.
(2003); Banjo et al. (2006))
6 Hasan (2001); NRC (2011); Alegbeleye
et al. (2012)
7 E.g. Oonincx and de Boer (2012)
The insect market Pet food
today Pet food is a mainstream market
for European insect producers.
Insect products are well-suited to
Insects in animal feed the particular needs of pet food,
due to their high digestibility and
Today insect protein is used in fish feed and palatability. Several European
pet food. The next step will be to authorise the pet food companies already
use of insect protein for poultry feed and other incorporate insects in their feed
livestock. formula, notably as a means to
diversify their products’ range
Fish feed e.g. in hypoallergenic products.
This trend is expected to continue
Fish farming, or aquaculture, is expected to to grow in the next few years.
provide 62% of the global fish supply by 20308.
This means the demand for fish meal and Poultry feed
fish oil to feed farmed fish is also increasing.
Changing climatic conditions in Peru have Today insect proteins cannot
affected the availability of fish meal and fish be fed to poultry as legislation
oil, leading to a decline in availability and high passed after the BSE crisis in the
volatility on the market. Processed animal late 1990s prevents processed
proteins (PAPs) which are allowed to be used animal proteins from being fed to
in fish feed, are not yet included in many of livestock11. Only fishmeal may be
the feed products on the market today. Insect used. And yet, 78% of EU insect
protein has similar characteristics to PAPs and producers see poultry feed as a
provides a good, sustainable alternative. ‘promising opportunity’12.
3
The demand for formulated fish
feed presents an opportunity for
the insect sector. In July 2017, insect
proteins from seven insect species9
were authorised in the EU for use in
aqua feed, opening new feed markets
8
for insect producers. Like other farmed FAO (2014): http://
www.fao.org/news/
animals, these insect species may only story/en/item/213522/
be fed with ‘feed grade materials’ such as icode
materials of plant origin, processed eggs, milk 9 Black soldier fly (Hermetia
and their derived products. illucens), common housefly
(Musca domestica), yellow
Roughly 1,000 tonnes of insect protein have mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), lesser
mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus),
been commercialised by European insect house cricket (Acheta domesticus),
producers in total, since the authorisation of banded cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus)
insect proteins for use in aqua feed. Today, the and field cricket (Gryllus assimilis)
aqua feed market consumes approximately 10 IPIFF questionnaire – October 2018
50% of European animal feed made from 11Commission Regulation (EU)
insects and this is expected to rise to 75% by No 56/2013: https://eur-lex.
203010. europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.
do?uri=OJ:L:2013:021:0003:0016:EN:PDF
12 IPIFF questionnaire – October 2018
Insects as food
Testimonial: Alexander Döring, for human
Secretary General of the European
Feed Manufacturers’ Federation
consumption
(FEFAC) In many parts of the world, insects
are part of the diet, for at least
”Insect protein has been successfully two billion people according to
incorporated into aquafeed the FAO. Elsewhere, the way we
formulations since the EU’s approval in 2017. eat is changing and the number
Nutritionally, insect protein has proved to be a highly- of people willing to try insect-
valued complementary source and its demand may only based food is increasing. This
increase as adequate supply is created. Its approval in poultry trend is supported by positive
feed will most certainly be instrumental in making it an interesting media coverage and greater
additional source of protein. While insect protein is not expected availability of insect products.
to replace current protein sources, it is important that the sector
continues to perform research on the nutritional value of its The nutritional benefits and
products, e.g. to adapt to various animal species, age or low environmental stress of
livestock production systems, as well as risk assessments insects further boost the trend.
on feed safety, including process technology and the Flexitarians eat less meat and
use of innovative substrates which do not compete with are generally more aware of
traditional feed ingredients.” food sourcing and sustainability,
as are those buying organic
products or following a paleo
Consumer perception diet. This change in attitudes
(PROteINSECT Project) around food creates new
In a 2014/2015 opportunities for the insect
survey undertaken by protein sector.
4 PROteINSECT13:
• 70% of respondents said The growing demand for
that it is acceptable to feed high protein food for sport
insect protein to farmed nutrition, dietetic food or in food
animals including fish supplements creates further
• 73% would be willing to opportunities. Currently, these
eat fish, chicken or pork are niche markets but are
from animals fed on a diet forecasted to grow rapidly in the
containing insect protein next few years.
Insects can be used in a
range of ways. They can be
incorporated in food as whole
insects in fried or dried form,
whole insects processed into
a granular powder or paste
to increase nutritional value
or functionality, all the way to
extracted products, for example
as protein applied to food.
Yet, insects are not expected
to replace meat in our diets
entirely. The varied eating
styles and diets across
Europe mean a wide
variety of products and
ingredients are needed.
13 PROteINSECT Report Summary
(2016): https://cordis.europa.eu/result/
rcn/191985_en.html Photo credit: Proti-Farm
Nutritional
characteristics14
Rich in protein and
essential amino acids
Good source of
unsaturated fats
(e.g. good Omega
3:6 balance)
Rich in vitamins and
minerals
(vitamins A, B, B12,
magnesium, iron…)
Prebiotic fibres like chitin
provide nutrients for
probiotic gut bacteria
Digestibility is higher
than many vegetable-
based protein sources
but slightly lower than
traditional animal protein
sources 5
Testimonial: Jonas House, Lecturer at Wageningen University,
Sociology of Consumption and Households, Expert in public acceptance
of insects as food
”Considering the innovation adoption curve (see graph below) in relationship
to the acceptance of insects as food, the ‘yuck factor’ is not the main
issue we should focus on. To achieve wider market acceptance, producers
and advocates should
focus on the high
satisfaction of early
adopters. The ‘early
majority’ of consumers
will be drawn to insect
consumption if others
lead by example.
They will be convinced
14 The nutritional
when told by family
values of edible
and friends, “I have
insects are
tried this delicious variable across
insect dish, you should species and
try it too!”” production
Innovation adoption curve processes
Main trends supporting the development of the European insect sector
6
Main challenges for these factors will lead to reliable
supply and stable quality while
the industry today increasing production capacity
in Europe.
As in all emerging sectors, the
insect protein industry faces some By increasing the scale of
challenges which IPIFF is working production, insect farmers will
to overcome, supported by its be able to increase the price
members. competitiveness and stability
of their products compared to
1. Need to upscale other sources of protein.
To reach its full potential, the insect By October 2018, European
industry needs to scale up. This insect producers had raised
can readily be achieved due to the more than €350 million through
exponential reproduction rate and investments and were expecting
short life cycle of insects. to raise more than €2 billion by
2025.
Automation and controlled
production systems will make insect
production less labour-intensive.
Insect producers are already on
track as significant investments are
being made in semi-automated
systems in Europe.
The ideal conditions are being
developed for insects to thrive in,
taking into account factors such
as their optimum temperature and
humidity requirements. Mastering
Source: IPIFF questionnaire October 2018
7
Source: IPIFF questionnaire October 2018
2. Addressing consumers’ expectations
Livestock farmers in the EU have to meet consumers’ expectations for safe, nutritious
and high-quality products of animal origin. They are also expected to address societal
challenges such as reducing the use of antibiotics. Insect producers must therefore
produce nutritious and high-quality products in order to respond to these new
demands.
3. Regulatory challenges foodstuff containing meat,
fish or food losses originating
Food and feed safety is essential from restaurants or catering
for the insect industry. Like any establishments. These restrict the
food or feed company in Europe, market and efforts are ongoing
insect producers have to follow to broaden the opportunities
principles established under the available.
General Food Law, the cornerstone
of the European Feed Safety risk The legal framework was
management policy. identified by IPIFF in its 2018
questionnaire as one of the main
• Responsibility for the safety of the factors impacting the growth of
feed/food placed on the market lies the insect sector.
with individual feed/food business
operators
• Traceability of products must be
ensured
In the EU today, the
opportunities for using and
feeding insects are still
quite limited. Insects are
for example not allowed
to be used as feed
for poultry and pigs
and may not be
fed with former
8
Source: IPIFF survey March 2018
Insect farming is changing
the traditional waste
hierarchy
Currently, one-third of all food is wasted. Insect producers use co-products
Measures are being taken to create a from the cereal, starch, fruit and
healthier, more sustainable food production vegetable supply chains or from
and consumption system which produces less local food processors e.g. pastry and
waste. biscuits, local artisans e.g. bakers or
unsold products from supermarkets
To reach that goal, the European Commission which are unsold for technical or
launched the Food 2030 research and logistical reasons. These products
innovation policy which responds to the UN have low environmental footprints
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). because they are co-products of the
SDG 12, ‘Ensure Sustainable Consumption food chain and do not require any
and Production Patterns’, is relevant for the new processes for their production.
insect sector. It addresses ways to be more
sustainable, to reduce environmental impacts
and encourages consumers to shift to more
nutritious and safe diets.
Insect farming contributes to tackling these
societal challenges by feeding insects with co-
products from the agri-food industries and
with resources which are currently not being
used and not or no longer destined for human
consumption, so-called ‘former foodstuff’.
9
Source: IPIFF survey March 2018
By turning lower-value materials and ingredients with low environmental footprints into high-
value materials, such as proteins, insect producers offer a new outlet and a sustainable
alternative for unexploited or underexploited resources, in accordance with the waste
hierarchy principles.
Such underexploited resources are by-products, has been declining
growing due to the competition in the EU in recent years15. EU
faced by EU cereal producers from producers of cereal by-products
other neighbouring countries e.g. need to secure new markets for
Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. their outputs. Insects can be fed
Agri-food companies active in these with these by-products and as
sectors are seeking new outputs for such constitute a new market,
their products and by-products. which does not compete with
and is complementary to the
Furthermore, cattle production, feed industry.
traditionally the main market for
Insects can add a new layer to the
waste hierarchy
10
15 European Commission’s Directorate-
General for Agriculture and Rural
Development, “Short-term outlook Closing the loop
for EU agricultural markets in 2018
and 2019”: https://ec.europa.eu/
agriculture/sites/agriculture/files/
The European Commission adopted European insect producers
markets-and-prices/short-term- a Circular Economy Package16 are already contributing to the
outlook/pdf/agri_short_term_outlook_ to help European businesses and development of a more Circular
spring-2018_en.pdf consumers use resources in a more Economy by selecting substrates
16 2018 Circular Economy Package: sustainable way. The initiative from local partners in a small
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ recommends clarifying EU legislation geographical area. Through
circular-economy/index_en.htm
to ensure that former foodstuff these partnerships, producers
17 More on: ipiff.org and by-products from the agri- maintain a network of activity in
18Membership data from October food chain may be used in feed rural and agricultural areas.
2018 production.IPIFF - The IPIFF’s objectives are to:
• Promote insects as a top-tier
International source of nutrients for food and feed
• Consolidate dialogue with EU
Platform of Insects public authorities and advocate for
appropriate legislative frameworks
for Food and Feed without discrimination in EU Member
States in order to maximise
opportunities for insect producers
The International Platform of Insects for • Support insect producers in the
Food and Feed17 (IPIFF) represents the insect effective implementation of food and
production sector to EU policymakers, feed safety legislation
European food and feed chain stakeholders • Promote and develop shared
and citizens. standards and best practices
IPIFF’s 46 members, from 15 European IPIFF’s activities are articulated
countries18, are mostly small and medium-sized around three main pillars:
enterprises producing insects for the European • Promoting the use of insects and
market. advocating for an appropriate
legislative framework
“Education is a • Supporting the development of the
insect sector
global priority for • Communicating the benefits of
insect farming and eating insects and cooperating with
all stakeholders
insect consumption.
Delivering insect-
positive messages
11
and information to
the public is vital to
moving the industry
forward in a positive
way.“
IPIFF President Antoine Hubertand the next targets are part of
IPIFF’s work programme.
IPIFF works through a number of
working groups, drawing on the
expertise of its members and the
secretariat in Brussels.
Taking care of food
hygiene and consumer
safety
1. IPIFF promotional Food hygiene legislation and EU
legislation on food information
and advocacy for consumers need to be revised
to include the insect sector.
activities towards
adapting existing Through its Working Group on
‘Food Safety and Consumers’
EU policies and Information’, IPIFF is participating
legislation actively in the preparation and
development of EU hygiene
standards for the production
Adapting EU policies and and processing of insects for
legislation human consumption (Regulation
853/2004 laying down specific
IPIFF developed a three-step plan hygiene rules for food of animal
to have insect protein authorised origin).
12 for animal feed and to allow new
substrates to be used for feeding The group provides guidance
insects. The first step of the plan, to IPIFF members on the
authorising the use of insect proteins implementation of the ‘general’
in aqua feed, has been completed EU food labelling rules and
IPIFF roadmap on the use of insects in animal feed
19 Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (28
January 2002) and Regulation (EC) No
852/2004 (29 April 2004)
20 Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 (12
January 2005)
21 More information on IPIFF’s website:
http://ipiff.org/insects-novel-food-eu-
legislationsuggests legislative adaptations to develop production. Insects kept in the EU
tailor-made regulatory provisions for insect for the production of food, feed
products. These include the labelling of or other purposes are considered
potential allergens and the denomination of ‘farmed animals’. Under the relevant
insect ingredients on prepackaged products. legislation, animals in the EU may
only be fed with safe feed. However,
IPIFF’s priorities are to have: EU animal welfare rules do not
• Sufficiently robust standards to ensure currently apply to insects.
safety conditions are met while ensuring these
can be realistically enforced EU Novel Food legislation
• Appropriate procedures in place to ensure
imports of insect products into the EU comply The EU’s Novel Food legislation
with appropriate EU food and feed safety represents an opportunity for
standards the insect sector as it provides
harmonised rules and a simplified
Going organic with insect products decision-making process.
The organic market is growing and is an IPIFF helps insect producers
opportunity for insect producers to offer a comply with food and feed safety
higher-value product. Insect products intended legislation. The IPIFF ‘Task Force on
for food or feed are not yet eligible for EU Novel Food’ was created to help
organic certification as currently there are no producers of insects intended for
standards defined in EU legislation. human consumption fulfil their legal
obligations under the EU Novel Food
Through its Task Force on ‘Organic Farming legislation.
and Insects’, IPIFF and its members are
investigating appropriate standards for A package of two guideline
organic insect production for dissemination documents21 has been published. The
at future discussions between the European Administrative Guidelines provide 13
Commission services and Member States. an overview of the different steps
to be followed by insect producers
Making the most of insect by- when applying for authorisation.
The Scientific Guidelines summarise
products the scientific evidence which can be
presented by insect producers to
Currently, lengthy and complex authorisation support their application.
procedures are needed at national level to use
by-products from insect production like insect
frass (or faeces).
A new EU legislative proposal is being discussed
to harmonise the conditions for marketing
fertilising products on an EU-wide scale. This
is an opportunity to include insect by-products
in the scope.
Through its Task Force on ‘Insect Frass and
Fertilisers’, IPIFF is assisting its members to fulfil
national authorisation procedures. It is also
defining standards for insect frass products to Photo credit: Ÿnsect
qualify as fertilisers under the new EU fertiliser
legislation.
2. IPIFF support activities
EU general requirements for feed
hygiene and animal health
The general requirements for food hygiene19
and animal health20 apply to insectGuide to Good Hygiene opportunity to bring researchers
Practices and insect producers together
and to open up new markets.
In November 2016, IPIFF members
launched a ‘Task Force on Good The European Commission
Hygiene Principles’. The aim was will publish a ‘Protein Plan for
to help insect producers effectively Europe’22 by end-2018. The report
apply EU food and feed safety will stress the importance of
legislation, while encouraging them cultivating plant-based proteins
to develop a robust food and feed such as those from leguminous
safety management system. plants, e.g. pulses. IPIFF sees
this plan as an opportunity to
A Guide on Good Hygiene Practices include alternative sources of
(GGHP) for insect production will be proteins such as insect protein
published end-2018 or early 2019. although they are only a small
The document covers all production proportion of the protein supply
steps from feeding the insects, today. However, insect protein
breeding, killing and processing, sources meet the needs of
storage or transport activities, up to certain animal species and bring
the final delivery of the product to complementary value to plant
consumers or feed manufacturers. proteins23.
Encouraging research and
local supply chains
Although IPIFF’s main mission
is not to participate in
European research
14 projects, IPIFF works to
secure appropriate EU
funding for developing
the insect sector, while
m
ar
contributing to the
ti-F
dissemination of research
Pro
projects to stakeholders.
:
dit
cre
oto
IPIFF encourages research
Ph
activities which enhance the
competitiveness of the sector
and enable innovation and In the context of ongoing
upscaling. The next Horizon Europe discussions on the EU Protein
Framework Programme (FP 9) Plan, IPIFF made the following
starting in 2020 is a key resource recommendations:
in this development. FP 9 offers an
• EU research projects should
allow the opening of new
markets for insects
• Agri-environmental measures
should be established in the
22 Commission seeks expert views on framework of rural development
plant proteins (26 July 2018) programmes such as the
23 IPIFF contribution on the CAP post-2020. This would
development of a European Protein support farmers who diversify
Plan (28 September 2018) their activities towards insect
24 Advisory Group – Food Chain and production, as well as supporting
Animal and Plant Health: https:// local initiatives aimed at circular
ec.europa.eu/food/expert-groups/ag-
or integrated local supply chains.
ap/adv-grp_fchaph_en
These could for example include
25 Stakeholders – support and help
the reuse of locally or regionally
to guide our work: https://www.efsa.
europa.eu/en/engage/stakeholders produced co-products to feedinsects, as well as the use of insect products The four regional associations
as feed by livestock farmers. Such measures IPIFF, AFFIA, IPAA and NACIA met
would be consistent with global trends. in May 2018 in Wuhan, China to
lay the foundation for international
3. Informing and engaging collaboration.
with stakeholders A Codex Alimentarius specifically
for the insect sector, certification,
IPIFF works hand in hand with EU policymakers education and good hygiene
such as the European Commission’s Directorate practices were agreed as priorities
General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), for the development of the global
national control authorities and partners insect industry.
along the food and feed chain e.g. farmers,
the food and feed industry, the aquaculture “The Codex Alimentarius is a food
sector and veterinarians. IPIFF firmly believes code which has been established
that by working together in a coordinated way by FAO and WHO. From a global
with key stakeholders, any safety risks can be perspective, the importance to
effectively managed. connect with these organisations
will ensure we do not try to make
IPIFF is a member of a number of ‘EU a new body of regulations, but
institutional consultative forums’ established instead utilise existing ones.” AFFIA
by the EU public authorities and involving food President Anne Deguerry
and feed chain partners, for example the
European Commission Advisory Group on the “I am pleased to have seen the
Food Chain and Animal and Plant Health24 and initial round table facilitated here
the EFSA Stakeholders’ Forum25. These serve in China. It is an important step for
as platforms for exchanging information, as the industry on a global level that
well as helping to address potential concerns will ensure we are moving forward
positively and cohesively together,
stakeholders may have about the insect sector.
to a stronger insect industry for the
15
Looking beyond Europe future”. IPIFF Treasurer Heinrich Katz
IPIFF works with regional insect associations
such as the Asian Food and Feed Insect
Association (AFFIA), the Insect Protein
Association of Australia (IPAA) and the North
American Coalition for Insect Agriculture
(NACIA) as well as other international
organisations such as the FAO.IPIFF Members
For further information or to become a member
of IPIFF, please visit our website or get in touch.
IPIFF
info@ipiff.org
www.ipiff.org
+32 (0)2 743 29 97
Avenue Adolphe Lacomblé
59, bte 8
1030, Brussels
BelgiumYou can also read
