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Given current ecological and economic unsustainability, there is a need to transition to circular agrifood systems, in which insects may play a significant role. Insects may be most efficiently incorporated into circular food systems by feeding the organic waste—or low-opportunity-cost feed (LOCF). This study uses insects fed on agricultural by-products and LOCF as fish feed. In phase 1, 23 types of agrifood waste and 11 insect species were analysed. Seven types of LOCF—mango and cassava residues, guava flour, wheat bran, pig manure, and coffee husks—and two insects—black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens) and mealworm (Tenebrio molitor)—were selected based on their scores. During phase 2, experimental diets made up of the seven types of residues were tested on the two insect species, and the best insect productive performance was achieved upon feeding them cassava waste and pig manure, particularly in the case of BSF. While microbiological and toxicological analyses are still being carried out, initial results indicate the potential of LOCF to enhance insect productivity, resulting in high-quality animal feed. Phase 3 evaluated the performance of tropical cachama fish (Piaractus brachypomus) fed diets including insects raised on LOCF. The results revealed that the inclusion of insect meal, as a partial replacement for conventional protein sources such as soybean meal, maintained adequate growth performance and feed conversion efficiency. In collaboration with Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and Norway’s Institute of Marine Research, analytical tools—including omics technologies for insect-feed tracing—are being implemented. This initiative demonstrates the transformative potential of insects as key tools in sustainable food systems. The research provides a strong foundation for future studies aimed at optimizing insect larvae production, expanding their inclusion in aquafeeds, and improving waste management processes. Ongoing research is crucial to identifying insects’ role in the global bioeconomy.

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BioInsectonomy: A Circular Agrifood Economy Based on Insects as Animal Feed

  • 章节

  • 发表日期：

    2025年

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  • Karol B. Barragán-Fonseca

摘要

Given current ecological and economic unsustainability, there is a need to transition to circular agrifood systems, in which insects may play a significant role. Insects may be most efficiently incorporated into circular food systems by feeding the organic waste—or low-opportunity-cost feed (LOCF). This study uses insects fed on agricultural by-products and LOCF as fish feed. In phase 1, 23 types of agrifood waste and 11 insect species were analysed. Seven types of LOCF—mango and cassava residues, guava flour, wheat bran, pig manure, and coffee husks—and two insects—black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens) and mealworm (Tenebrio molitor)—were selected based on their scores. During phase 2, experimental diets made up of the seven types of residues were tested on the two insect species, and the best insect productive performance was achieved upon feeding them cassava waste and pig manure, particularly in the case of BSF. While microbiological and toxicological analyses are still being carried out, initial results indicate the potential of LOCF to enhance insect productivity, resulting in high-quality animal feed. Phase 3 evaluated the performance of tropical cachama fish (Piaractus brachypomus) fed diets including insects raised on LOCF. The results revealed that the inclusion of insect meal, as a partial replacement for conventional protein sources such as soybean meal, maintained adequate growth performance and feed conversion efficiency. In collaboration with Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and Norway’s Institute of Marine Research, analytical tools—including omics technologies for insect-feed tracing—are being implemented. This initiative demonstrates the transformative potential of insects as key tools in sustainable food systems. The research provides a strong foundation for future studies aimed at optimizing insect larvae production, expanding their inclusion in aquafeeds, and improving waste management processes. Ongoing research is crucial to identifying insects’ role in the global bioeconomy.