Cargill and InnovaFeed announced June 24 a collaboration to jointly market fish feed that includes insect protein, enabling both partners to support the growth of sustainable aquaculture.

“We recognize that the planet has finite resources,” said Pilar Cruz, president of Cargill’s compound feed business. “It is our job to find innovative feed options for our customers that protect the planet and support sustainable protein production.”

InnovaFeed’s circular economy approach brings added sustainability benefits as the company uses agricultural co-products from the production of starch and sugar to feed black soldier fly larvae, known as Hermetia illucens. Once the larvae reach a certain stage, protein and oil are extracted from the larvae to be used in feed for pets, aquaculture species and young animals like broilers and piglets.

“By upcycling local cereal co-products and repurposing insect waste as an organic fertilizer, InnovaFeed’s products truly have a positive environmental impact,” InnovaFeed chief executive officer Clement Ray said. “We’re also able to have a positive impact on climate change by saving 25,000 tons of [carbon dioxide] emissions per year with each 10,000-ton-production unit by feeding insect meal to animals. That is equivalent to removing 14,000 cars off the roads.”

InnovaFeed’s team of more than 60 engineers and technicians has developed an innovative process allowing them to produce high-quality insect meal at an industrial scale. Over the past three years, InnovaFeed has led multiple trials demonstrating that its insect protein can be an effective alternative to the fish meal used in salmon or shrimp feed with equal or improved performance.

“We’ve seen a strong acceptance of our products by consumers looking for natural and sustainable products,” said Maye Walraven, head of business development for InnovaFeed.

Insect-fed trout has been commercialized in France since June 2018.

“This partnership will not only enable our salmon and shrimp customers to differentiate their product lines to meet consumer needs, but we’ll also be responsibly managing resources, enabling both companies to support the growth of sustainable aquaculture and make a positive impact at a global scale,” said Adriano Marcon, president of Cargill’s aqua nutrition business.

Through the partnership, Cargill and InnovaFeed will collaborate to jointly market fish feed that includes insect protein.

“We found the ideal partner in InnovaFeed,” added Helene Ziv, director of risk management and sourcing for Cargill’s animal nutrition business. “We have a shared purpose: offering innovative, sustainable solutions to meet the nutritional needs of our growing population and our customers.”