Edible Insects For Animal Feed Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2024-2031- (By Derivatives Coverage, Geographic Coverage and By Company)

As the demand for sustainable and economical animal feed alternatives grows, the global edible insects for animal feed market is witnessing remarkable growth. Valued at approximately US$ 10.08 billion in 2024, this market is anticipated to surge at a CAGR of 37.3% over the next seven years, reaching a valuation of US$ 92.6 billion by 2031.

Key Market Drivers:

1. Rising Popularity of Insect Feed Over Conventional Feed: Insects offer an economical and sustainable alternative to traditional feeds like fishmeal. The cost-effective nature of insect feed is driving its popularity, particularly in aquaculture, where manufacturers are increasingly inclined towards insect-based feed options, especially in Europe and North America.

2. Commercialization of Insect-Based Protein in Europe: The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has approved insect proteins for use in aqua feed, spurring the commercialization of insect-based products. Nearly 5,000 tonnes of insect protein are currently available in the market, reflecting Europe’s supportive regulatory landscape and high adoption rate for insect-based animal feed.

3. Cost-Effectiveness as a Protein Source: Conventional protein sources, such as fishmeal, soy proteins, and meat-based proteins, account for 60-70% of feed production costs. Insect protein offers a more affordable alternative, reducing overall feed production expenses and enhancing its appeal across the animal nutrition industry.

4. Superior Nutritional Value of Insects: Insects are rich in essential amino acids, lipids, and other nutrients, making them an ideal replacement for traditional animal feed protein sources. The nutritional density of insects helps in boosting animal health and performance, which in turn is driving demand for insect-based animal feed products.

5. Meeting High-Quality Standards: While demand is robust, consumer expectations for quality, safety, and nutritional value remain high. This need for premium standards places pressure on manufacturers to ensure product safety and consistency, which could limit expansion rates in some regions.

Business Opportunities: Investors and startups are increasingly recognizing the potential of insect-based animal feed products. The market’s low initial setup costs and high growth prospects have spurred numerous investments, enabling manufacturers to expand production capacities and enter new geographical regions. This trend is particularly prominent in Europe and North America, where multiple startups are capitalizing on the insect-based feed market’s growing popularity.

Regional Insights:

1. Europe and North America - Leading Markets: These regions lead in terms of demand and production for insect-based animal feed products. With supportive regulations and a high concentration of startups focused on insect feed, Europe and North America are expected to retain their dominant market share.

2. Asia Pacific - Promising Growth Region: Asia Pacific is anticipated to experience substantial growth due to increasing demand from the livestock farming, pet food, and aquaculture sectors. Key countries like China and India exhibit high adaptability to insect-based animal feed, marking them as lucrative markets in the coming years.

3. Challenges Due to Regulatory Differences: Although demand is growing globally, regulatory disparities between regions present a challenge. Each region’s unique regulatory landscape affects the rate of adoption and may hinder growth in some areas.

Key Insect Types Driving Revenue:

• Mealworms are the highest revenue-generating insect type, valued at US$ 3.84 billion, followed by Orthoptera at US$ 1.75 billion. Their high protein content and favorable nutritional profile make them popular among feed manufacturers.

Dominant End-Use Segment:

• Aquaculture remains the leading end-use sector, accounting for nearly 47% of the market share, with a valuation of US$ 3.44 billion in 2023. Incorporating insect protein in aqua feed has demonstrated improved feed conversion ratios and enhanced growth performance in species such as juvenile rainbow trout and giant water prawn.

Competitive Analysis:

Leading companies are focusing on product innovation, quality enhancement, and expansion of production capacities. Manufacturers are investing in research and development to advance breeding methods, optimize nutritional content, and develop insect feed products catering to specific animal nutrition needs.

Key Players in the Edible Insects for Animal Feed Market:

• AgriProtein Holdings Ltd
• Ynsect SAS
• Protix
• InnovaFeed
• EnviroFlight, LLC
• Entomo Farms
• Beta Hatch
• Nutrition Technologies Group
• Hexafly Biotech
• Entobel
• HiProMine S.A
• Mutatec
• Enterra Feed Corporation
• Entomotech S.L.
• Kreca Ento-Feed BV
• DeliBugs
• Haocheng Mealworms Inc.
• Nusect
• Protenga
• nextProtein

These key players are focusing on scaling up operations, expanding their product lines, and investing in advanced breeding techniques to meet the growing demand for insect-based feed across various sectors.

Edible Insects for Animal Feed Industry Research by Category

By Insect Type:

• Black Soldier Fly
• Orthoptera
• Housefly
• Silkworm
• Mealworm
• Others

By Product Type:

• Meal
• Oil
• Whole

By End Use:

• Livestock
• Poultry
• Swine
• Pet Food
• Aquaculture

By Region:

• North America
• Latin America
• Europe
• South Asia & Pacific
• East Asia
• Middle East & Africa

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