The International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) has urged the European Union to set mandatory inclusion targets for sustainable ingredients in aquafeed: 3% by 2027, 15% by 2030, and 50% by 2050.
The aim is to boost industrial scaling, increase resilience, and reduce Europe’s reliance on imported proteins, which currently stands at around 70%.
This roadmap is underpinned by the high nutritional value, digestibility, and circular economy potential of insects. Furthermore, the trend is supported by the World Bank’s Harnessing the Waters report, which warns that aquaculture growth will require a multiplied production of alternative sources (such as insects and algae) to meet global demand.
However, the imposition of quotas is sparking debate within the sector regarding its economic viability. Insect meal cannot yet compete on cost with established raw materials such as soya or animal by-products- This is a critical factor, given that feed is the single highest operating cost in aquaculture.
Added to this are the current limitations in production capacity and regulatory restrictions regarding the substrates authorised for insect rearing. Consequently, stakeholders across the value chain warn that a mandatory quota could create severe tensions if it is not accompanied by a substantial improvement in the ingredient’s availability and competitiveness.
As the industry moves towards progressive protein diversification, the IPIFF’s proposal seeks to influence the EU’s forthcoming Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture 2040.
For analysts, the underlying issue is not the validity of alternative ingredients, but the monumental challenge of making them competitive in terms of cost, volume, and reliability in an increasingly demanding market.
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