Pet Food Processing - May 2023 - 40

INGREDIENTS
Black soldier fly
larvae is currently
the most common
insect protein used
in pet food. Its brief
life cycle allows
for large-scale
and long-term
production of the
insect.
Protix
are an economically priced protein, Dunston Quirk said.
The larvae can be blended with other proteins to alter
the palatability of a product or change the consistency.
" We have not seen any significant difference in the
shelf life of products using the larvae versus any other
protein if the water activity is at appropriate levels, " she
added. " With any treat, when water activity exceeds
normal ranges, that treat may become compromised. "
Innovations overseas
In addition to BSFL, other insect ingredients are authorized
for use in both cat and dog food across Asia, Canada
and Europe. The global insect industry is collaborating
through the proper regulatory channels in the United
States to open up the market. Right now, suppliers are investing
to make insect ingredients even more attractive.
" As pet owners want to take better care of their animals
- especially as they increasingly see their pets as
family members - pet food and treat manufacturers
are looking for new high-quality ingredients to
meet the demand for healthy and nutritious
feeds, " said Sean Madison, director
of North American business
development, Innovafeed,
Paris. " Furthermore, with
the United Nations
Food and Agriculture
Organization predicting
a protein deficit of
30 to 40 million tonnes
by 2030, securing sustainable
sources of protein
will be critical in
the future for pet food
manufacturers. "
Globe Buddy Brown dry dog food
boasts the sustainability benefits of
being made from insect protein.
Globe Buddy
Innovafeed breeds BSFL in large-scale plants based on
vertical, zero waste and circular model farms. The company
uses all parts of the insect. This includes the production
of two types of BSFL ingredients for pet food.
Defatted dried BSFL meal is a highly concentrated
source of premium protein with a balanced amino acid
profile, according to Madison. The BSFL oil is a source
of healthy fatty acids, in particular, the medium-chain
triglyceride lauric acid, which has antimicrobial and antioxidant
properties and can improve digestion.
" Insect ingredients can be used like any other traditional
protein and oil sources into pet feed and treats
and there are many references in the literature describing
their safety and efficacy, " Madison said.
Grubs and crickets are
an amazingly efficient food
source, as they take up a
fraction of the acres required
by a cattle feedlot. "
Anne Carlson, Jiminy's
Innovafeed signed a partnership agreement with
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Chicago, in 2020 to
build the largest insect protein plant in the world by
2025 in Decatur, Ill., with a capacity of 60,000 tons of
insect protein per year. ADM corn co-products will be
recycled locally to feed the insects through infrastructures
connected to the site. This production model will
allow Innovafeed to use 27 megawatts of energy collected
through the ADM process, energy that would have
otherwise been wasted, as it was not collected before.
" We are currently conducting an extensive trial in
partnership with ADM Pet Nutrition and the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to explore these topics
further and highlight any additional health benefits.
We look forward to being able to share the results of this
study later this year, " Madison said.
40 PET FOOD PROCESSING | May 2023 | www.petfoodprocessing.net
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Pet Food Processing - May 2023

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