Insects for sustainable animal feed: inclusive business models

What is it about?

Global population growth, an increasing demand for animal products and scarcity of conventional feed ingredients drive the search for alternative protein sources for animal feed. Extensive research indicates that insects provide good opportunities as a sustainable, high quality and low-cost component of animal feed. Here, we discuss how insect farming can promote inclusive business for smallholder farmers in the agribusiness value chain. Inclusive business models involving insects as ingredients in feed may contribute to solving socio-economic and environmental problems in developing countries, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. With low initial capital investments, smallholder insect farmers have good opportunities to increase productivity, improve their livelihood and contribute to food security and a circular economy.

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Why is it important?

The production of fly larvae for on-farm and local use may make smallholder farmers less dependent on feed millers that provide feed based on expensive and unsustainable fishmeal or soybean meal. For smallholder farmers to be able to effec￾tively connect to the agribusiness value chain and supply fly larvae to national feed millers, it is important that they can supply sufficient volume. To do so, farmers likely need to organise in cooperatives. This will not only improve supply volume but can also empower them within the value chain. The novel production of insects as feed ingredient by smallholder farmers aligns with various SDGs: smallholder farmers can benefit from new markets while generating meaningful profits and increasing economic resilience in low-income communities.