It was a great pleasure to be interviewed by Alessandro Ford POLITICO Europe about IPIFF (International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed), the EU insect sector and insect farming activities.
Thanks to my colleague Eduard T. for facilitating the interview and to our SG, Christophe Derrien, for providing its valuable input.
Some highlights of this interview includes:
🎇 THE FASTEST GROWING PROTEIN SECTOR
👷♂️ While still a minor EU industry — directly employing around 1,000 people (just to add that accounting indirect jobs is around 3500 and expected to contribute to over 30,000 employment opportunities by 2030) and with €1.5 billion invested — insect farming is the fastest-growing protein sector, with hundreds of companies now rearing and processing some dozen species for pig, poultry and fishmeal. Along with pet food, this business accounts for 95 percent of revenue, compared to 5 percent for insect foods for people.
📈 INSECT FARMING CAN BOOST EU AGRICULTURE
💡Insect farming can help European Union agriculture and play a major role in the bloc’s protein strategy, allowing Europe to diversify, de-risk and decarbonize its supply of animal feed, according to Steven Barbosa, deputy secretary-general at the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF), a Brussels lobby group.
🐛 THE EU INSECT SECTOR HAS THREE MAIN REGULATORY PRIORITIES IN THIS EUROPEAN MANDATE
🐷 Firstly, to get European Commission approval to feed animal substrates (think meat or fish waste) to insects — but that’s a way off, admitted Barbosa. 🏝 Secondly, the approval of insect frass as soil fertilizer — “we are happy to say these discussions are more advanced and we expect conclusion in the beginning of next year,” he said.
🐟 Thirdly, the approval of insects as constituting “organic feed” in aquaculture, which the EU aquaculture advisory council has already recommended to the Commission.
👨🌾 FARMER FRIENDLY
🌲 Despite being classed with the “green” alternative proteins, like plant-based meats and fermentation products, that means insect farming’s future is most closely linked with that of animals, as Brussels aims to knock down its dependence on South American soymeal. “Our relationship with Copa-Cogeca is friendly because we want to offer farmers new possibilities,” said Barbosa. “We don’t want to replace meat.”
🚀 I just would like to add as a conclusion, insect farming activities is part of a greener and more prosperous future for Europe!