Insects in Animal Feed
Samples of insects as a feed ingredient—from protein to meal.
Insects are considered a promising feed ingredient. They are expected to provide protein, utilise by-products, and contribute to closing nutrient cycles. But to what extent does this promise already hold true in practice? This, among other topics, will be addressed at the Inhouse Farming Feed & Food Show, part of EuroTier 2026, taking place in Hanover from 10 to 13 November.
Initial insights are provided by Dr. Detlef Kampf, Head of Animal Nutrition, DLG Competence Center Agriculture, and Laura Schneider, researcher from Bingen Technical University of Applied Sciences, Germany. Their conclusion: insects are scientifically interesting, but not a straightforward substitute for conventional feed materials. Their potential lies particularly in applications where they offer more than just protein.
Between high expectations and niche application
For years, insects have been discussed as a potential component in animal feeding—as an alternative protein source, a converter of organic side streams, and a building block of more circular agricultural systems. In practice, however, the transition from a promising concept to a widely applied feed ingredient has only been partially achieved.
“I believe we are still operating in a niche,” says Dr. Kampf. While many companies have intensively explored the topic in recent years, not every production model has proven viable. In particular, large-scale facilities have not automatically been economically successful. In his view, more decentralised structures are therefore likely to play a key role in the future—systems located close to available input streams and market outlets.
Laura Schneider shares a similar assessment, describing the sector as being in an early stage of market penetration. While research and industrial development have made significant progress in recent years, gaps remain in standardisation, quality assurance, and the understanding of long-term effects in animal nutrition.
To date, insects have proven most successful in aquaculture and pet food applications. In traditional livestock sectors such as pigs and poultry, their use remains limited—less for technical reasons than due to regulatory and economic constraints.
What insects can deliver as a feed ingredient
From a nutritional perspective, it is essential to properly classify insects. Dr. Kampf describes insect protein as “a good protein source, positioned in quality between soybean meal and fishmeal.” While this makes insects attractive in principle, in practice they must compete with established feed materials—both in terms of nutrient supply and cost.
“These are good products, but ultimately they must find their place in the market,” says Dr. Kampf. He sees no inherent added value: if a ration is properly optimised, the required nutritional profile can also be achieved using other components.
Laura Schneider expands this perspective by looking at functional properties. In her view, public discussions tend to focus too narrowly on protein content. In reality, insects are a more complex resource, providing not only protein but also lipids, bioactive compounds, and chitin.
This opens up application areas beyond merely replacing conventional protein sources. The main species currently in focus are the black soldier fly and the mealworm. Key products include protein-rich insect meals, insect fats, and increasingly also live larvae.
Inhouse Farming – Feed & Food Show
The Inhouse Farming – Feed & Food Show is DLG’s B2B platform for innovative, closed production systems along the entire value chain, from feed to food.
It takes place from 10 to 13 November 2026 at the Hanover Exhibition Grounds as part of EuroTier and complements the event with forward-looking perspectives on new agricultural and food systems.
The focus is on technological and economic solutions in mushroom production, aquaculture and aquaponics, insect production, as well as retail and innovation. Four themed days provide expert knowledge, practical examples, and cross-industry exchange on key questions related to indoor production and future food security.
Further information:
www.inhouse-farming.com
Use in pig feeding: welfare benefits, but cost remains an issue
In practical trials, insect larvae are already being used in pig feeding—not yet for economic reasons, but to gain experience. The result: no measurable improvements in growth performance compared to soybean meal, but improved appearance and a more stable immune system.
Larvae provide animal protein that more closely matches pigs’ natural requirements than purely plant-based feeds such as soybean meal.
However, there is a major drawback: insect protein is currently around 50% more expensive than soybean meal. As long as soybean prices remain low, economic viability is difficult to achieve. In addition, the need for cooling complicates storage, creating further logistical and financial challenges.
Opportunities beyond protein supply
This becomes particularly evident with live larvae of the black soldier fly. Laura Schneider reports that poultry and pigs readily accept them and that they can serve as “edible enrichment.”
This shifts the focus beyond nutrient supply to animal behaviour, acceptance, and use in sensitive production phases. In particular, she sees potential in young animals or during transitional phases. Functional feed concepts may also play a role in the future.
Dr. Kampf provides a similar assessment from an animal nutrition perspective: when insects are used live, they can stimulate species-specific behaviours such as pecking, making them interesting beyond their protein value. This is particularly relevant for pigs and poultry, where animal welfare and enrichment are important considerations.
Why a direct comparison with soybean is insufficient
Dr. Kampf emphasises a key limitation: insects must always be considered within the entire production chain.
From substrate to insect to livestock (e.g. pigs or poultry) and finally to animal-based food, the process involves a “double conversion”—and therefore unavoidable losses. This raises the question of whether, in some cases, conventional protein sources might be more economically efficient if fed directly to livestock.
For Laura Schneider, however, this does not argue against insects, but rather points to a different positioning. Because insects cannot easily compete with bulk protein sources like soybean meal on price, she sees their future “less in the bulk protein market” and more in specialised applications.
Their potential lies where high quality requirements, functional properties, or specific production systems are decisive. In other words, insects are not a one-to-one replacement, but a complementary feed component offering additional value.
Co-products are key
Economic viability will not depend on protein alone. Dr. Kampf stresses that insect production is unlikely to be sustainable if it relies solely on protein revenues.
“Then the pressure on the protein itself may eventually decrease—it does not have to finance the entire process.”
This highlights the importance of co-products such as insect fat, chitin, and frass (insect manure). These should be evaluated for applications beyond livestock feeding, including pet food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and fertilisers.
Laura Schneider goes even further, describing insect oil, frass, and chitin/chitosan as decisive for economic viability. Insect oil can serve as an energy source in feed, frass is gaining importance as an organic fertiliser, and chitin opens up additional applications.
For her, maximising the use of all fractions is essential for achieving economic sustainability.
Circular economy requires suitable input streams
A key argument for insects is their role in circular economy systems. While Laura Schneider considers this fundamentally valid, she emphasises that actual sustainability depends heavily on the substrate, energy input, and process conditions.
Dr. Kampf adds that insects become particularly relevant when they convert biomass that is not otherwise utilised productively—for example, food that is close to expiry but still legally usable as feed.
He also refers to possibilities such as grass from areas without ruminant use—provided suitable insect species can utilise such substrates.
However, feed law remains a critical constraint: materials classified as waste cannot be used. Food safety within the value chain must not be compromised.
Opportunities for farms
Agricultural businesses may benefit primarily when insect production is integrated as a complementary system. Dr. Kampf envisions models where farmers collaborate with specialised companies, similar to contract farming.
Laura Schneider also sees potential in decentralised use of side streams, diversification of income sources, and possibly in organic farming—provided that regulatory conditions evolve.
Outlook
Insects are unlikely to replace conventional protein sources such as soybean meal or fishmeal on a large scale in the near future.
Their relevance lies in areas where they can offer additional value—functional properties, co-products, or integration into regional circular systems.
International comparison
Future development will depend not only on Europe, but also on global dynamics.
According to Steven Barbosa, Secretary General of the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF), Europe is particularly strong in regulation, safety, and quality standards. The EU sets benchmarks for traceability and risk assessment, creating trust among authorities, investors, and consumers.
Globally, however:
- Asia leads in scaling production
- North America combines capital, research, and growing applications (e.g. pet food, aquafeed)
- Latin America is emerging as a feed market
The differences are largely due to regulatory approaches. While the EU follows a precautionary and detailed framework, other regions are more flexible, particularly regarding substrates and side streams.
Conclusion
The key challenge is balancing safety and innovation.
Europe’s high standards provide credibility, but have so far also made highly circular and cost-efficient models more difficult.
To maintain its position, faster science-based approval processes, stronger domestic value chains, and reliable investment conditions will be required. Barbosa sees particularly strong opportunities in aquafeed.
Text: Agnes Michel-Berger / Freelance writer, DLG Newsroom