Alternative proteins
Exploring the potential of plant-based and novel insect proteins
Protein is a vital component of a healthy human diet, with most of it traditionally sourced from farmed animals. However, sourcing meat and fish through livestock and aquaculture systems has significant environmental and climate-related consequences, directly through emissions and resource use and indirectly through the demand for animal feed.
The rise in the global population is anchored to the increasing demand for meat- and fish-based protein. This intensifies pressure on ecosystems and drives demand for food and feed ingredients, thus prolonging and worsening environmental and climate-related consequences.
Alternative protein sources, such as plant-based proteins and novel insect proteins, are becoming more popular and widespread in use. They offer promising solutions to meet growing nutritional needs while reducing our environmental impact.
Insect protein
Ingredients used in animal feed, such as soybean meal and fishmeal, have serious environmental impacts, including land use change and deforestation, biodiversity loss and water quality issues. The production of soy, 75% of which is used in animal feed, is fuelling climate change through deforestation and habitat conversion in South and North America.
Insect protein can enhance a circular economy through rearing insects on by-products and food waste. While insect protein is commercially available as bird and pet food, and in some aquafeeds, it is yet to enter the livestock feed sector owing to constraints, including legislation, start-up costs, consumer acceptance and research gaps.
Research and project work on alternative protiens
Roadmap to accelerating insect protein in UK feeds
In our 2021 study conducted on behalf of WWF-UK ‘Roadmap to accelerating insect protein in UK feeds (2021)’, we examined how the production of insect meal might scale up in UK pig, poultry, and salmon feeds and what this could mean for the UK’s future soy and fishmeal footprint.
ADAS sustainability consultants can help companies overcome the challenges of switching to alternative proteins
We can advise on areas including: the sustainable sourcing of ingredients, environmental impact, and practical implementation.
Working with our in-house team of entomologists and farm advisors, we can offer end-to-end advice on insect production from due diligence through to implementation, helping you develop practical strategies in producing and sourcing alternative proteins.
Speak to the team