In recent years, the media has buzzed with discussions about insect protein, particularly its integration into various food products like faux beef and protein bars. However, a pioneering startup in the UK has taken a unique approach, seamlessly integrating bugs into the food supply chain while addressing environmental concerns and maintaining digestibility.
Entocycle, now in its ninth year, has devised a groundbreaking method utilizing insects to substitute traditional animal feed ingredients such as corn, soy, and fishmeal for pigs and chickens. These creatures, known as monogastrics within the meat industry due to their single stomach, include chickens and pigs. Unlike ruminants such as beef, sheep, and goats, which thrive solely on grass and roughage, monogastric animals have historically consumed a diverse diet, including bugs.
Indeed, insects formed a significant part of the natural diet of pigs and chickens, especially considering the latter’s ancestry traces back to tropical jungle fowl. Entocycle’s innovative facility in London exemplifies this concept in action, as thousands of black soldier fly larvae are transformed into high-quality protein feed for monogastric animals. Notably, black soldier fly larvae possess a voracious appetite for a wide range of organic waste, making insect farming a dual-purpose solution for environmental waste management.
By diverting food scraps from landfills, where they would otherwise contribute to methane emissions, Entocycle’s approach presents a compelling solution to mitigate greenhouse gas production. This innovative model not only reduces environmental impact but also holds promise for enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of the food supply chain.
“It is the quickest, cheapest, most sustainable insect to farm and it’s a non-disease, non-pest species found all over the world,” Entocycle founder and chief executive Keiran Whitaker said.
Although it may seem unlikely, flies are actually significant contributors to the production of food for the world’s poultry and pork farming industries. Beyond merely providing protein, they offer substantial benefits.
A study published in 2021 revealed that when pig manure is incubated with black soldier fly larvae, it significantly reduces the levels of nutrients in the manure, including nitrogen, carbon, energy, phosphorus, and potassium. This reduction in nutrient levels helps to mitigate environmental issues caused by excess manure, such as pollution of river systems during heavy rains, a problem notably seen in England.
Furthermore, black soldier flies have been found to positively impact animal health. Recent scientific studies support this notion. For example, a 2022 study showed that adding black soldier fly larvae to pig diets improved both the growth performance of pigs and the quality of their meat.
Recognizing these advantages, Entocycle developed a 40-foot walk-in fly breeding center, which was installed at the University of Leeds’ Research Farm. This facility tests innovative agricultural technology with the goal of achieving a fully circular farming system.
Meanwhile, in the United States, Cargill, a major food company, has begun utilizing insect feed in its pork and poultry operations. This feed is manufactured by a company called Innovafeed. Such initiatives highlight the growing recognition of insects, particularly flies, as valuable contributors to sustainable agriculture and food production.
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