Is insect protein really sustainable?
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An unfiltered look at its benefits, limitations, and comparison with current solutions.
Alternative proteins have gained prominence in the pet food industry for their promise of being more sustainable, innovative, and aligned with the environmental concerns of consumers and brands.
Among these, the insect protein , especially that derived from black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) , has positioned itself as one of the most discussed.
But beyond the enthusiasm…
Are we really looking at a scalable and sustainable solution?
And, above all, how does it compare to already established solutions such as the production of animal and marine meals in the rendering industry?
How is insect Meal produced?
In theory, the system is simple: larvae consume organic waste → generate biomass → are processed → insect meal.
But in practice:
- To obtain 100 tons of insect meal , must be managed around 800 to 1,000 tons of organic waste.
- That 1:8 / 1:10 conversion rate (wet basis) requires robust logistics: harvesting, refrigeration, biosecurity, microbiological control and more.
🧬 What does it provide nutritionally?
- 50–60% crude protein (dry basis)
- Complete profile of essential amino acids
- High digestibility (80–90%)
- Content of functional lipids and bioactive peptides
- Hypoallergenic potential
From a nutritional perspective, its profile is competitive. But cost and volume still limit its widespread use.
🌱 Environmental advantages with conditions
The most repeated narrative is clear:
- Less use of water and land
- Lower greenhouse gas emissions
- Converting waste into food
But for this model to really work:
- Organic matter must be stabilized, refrigerated or fermented beforehand.
- Plants require forced ventilation, biofiltration, and robust sanitary systems.
- All this implies energy consumption, emissions and relevant industrial costs .
⚠️ Real implementation challenges
- Waste management: requires complex industrial processes to ensure safety and efficiency.
- Odor control: Without advanced infrastructure, it can generate conflicts with nearby communities.
- Cost and scalability: To this day, the cost of insect meal remains 3 to 5 times higher than their equivalents in animal or marine rendering.
Comparison with other sources
| Protein source | Digestibility | % Protein | Essential amino acids | Cost | Scalability |
| Insect Meal | High (80–90%) | 50–60% | Complete | High | Average |
| Fishmeal | High (90–95%) | 65–72% | Excellent | Half | High |
| Meat meal | Medium (70–80%) | 45–55% | Variable | Low | High |
| Vegetable protein | Variable | 20–40% | Incomplete | Low | Very high |
♻️ What if the solution is already working? The case of rendering
In the constant search for new sources of protein—like insects—it's tempting to overlook an industry that has been quietly operating for decades, solving a massive global sustainability problem: the rendering .
This activity transforms inedible by-products from the meat and fish industry (viscera, bones, skins, fillet remains, trimmings) into flours and oils with high nutritional value, used in pet food, aquaculture, animal nutrition, and fertilizers.
This is not secondary waste. It's unavoidable raw materials. throughout the entire animal production chain. If they weren't recycled, they would end up in landfills or incinerated, generating greenhouse gases and putting pressure on waste management systems.
Rendering is the circular economy applied in its purest form.
✅ Real positive impacts of rendering
- Prevents waste: More than 20 million tons of animal remains are processed annually rather than disposed of.
- Generates nutritional value: produces ingredients rich in protein and functional lipids (such as omega 3 in marine flours).
- Reduce your environmental footprint: avoids emissions associated with organic waste.
- Optimize resources: It uses 100% of the animal already produced, without requiring additional land or water.
- It is regulated and standardized: with decades of experience in traceability, biosecurity and energy efficiency.
In comparison, insect protein still needs to develop infrastructure, scale, reduce costs and overcome regulatory challenges .
But… What do we really mean by “sustainable”?
A truly sustainable solution:
- Take advantage of existing waste with logistical and energy efficiency
- Avoid duplicating industrial efforts to treat waste
- Integrates already operational and standardized systems to reduce impact
Under that definition, The rendering industry remains one of the largest contributors to the circular economy in animal nutrition .
🇨🇱 And Chile?
Chile has ideal conditions for developing the rendering industry, especially in marine by-products.
Existing plants already supply markets such as salmon farming and pet food, generating value and reducing waste. Insect protein, on the other hand, is still in the pilot phase, facing challenges related to regulation, investment, and infrastructure.
Busting myths
❌ “Insect protein is more environmentally friendly”
✅ Only if managed with energy efficiency, controlled waste, and optimized scale. Otherwise, its footprint may be greater than that of the rendering.
❌ “Animal meal pollute”
✅ Rendering prevents the decomposition of animal waste and reduces emissions. It is an active part of a global circular economy.
❌ “Insects will replace other proteins”
✅ There is still no global infrastructure or competitive prices that allow for this. Today, its use is complementary, not a substitute.
Final reflection
Insect protein has garnered attention as a disruptive innovation in animal nutrition. However, before embracing this emerging trend, it's key to pause and reflect:
Are we really ready to incorporate new sources like insects, when we haven't yet tapped into the full potential of already established and sustainable solutions?
Because it's not just about being sustainable. It's about being consistent.
Today we already have an industrial system that:
- Revalues unavoidable waste,
- Reduce emissions,
- Produces functional protein,
- And it does so on a large scale, with proven infrastructure, regulation, and efficiency.
📊 Financial and economic data
Despite the growing interest in insect meal, its competitiveness compared to traditional sources such as fishmeal remains limited, mainly due to production costs and lack of scale.
Estimated cost of production
- USD $5,500 per ton defatted insect protein (dry basis)
- This value includes food, energy, processing, health control and logistics
Source: Wageningen University, 2024
Target price to compete
- Today, insect flour costs between 3 to 4 times more than its direct competitor, fish protein.
Minimum scale for breakeven
- A plant must produce at least 1,000 tons per year of insect flour to get closer to the break-even point.
- This involves processing more than 10,000 tons of organic waste per year.
In national context
- Chile consumes approximately 200,000 tons per year of proteins in animal nutrition.
- Therefore, 1,000 tons of insect meal would represent approximately 0.5% of the national market.
So…
If producing 1,000 tons of insect meal requires managing more than 10,000 tons of organic waste per year...
- How much logistics, energy and healthcare infrastructure does this industry really require to scale?
- Is the chain prepared to handle this volume efficiently, with environmental control and traceability, without compromising profitability or real sustainability?
What do you think?
I read you in the comments.
🗣️ Let's open the debate in the comments.
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🛡️ MCE Global Disclaimer
The information contained in this article has been prepared by MCE Market SpA, hereinafter MCE Global, for educational and informational purposes, aimed at pet food industry professionals and conscientious owners. While we strive to keep the information up-to-date and based on reliable sources, MCE Global does not guarantee that all data reflects the latest technical regulations or trading conditions in each market.
MCE Global acts as a supplier and distributor of functional ingredients for animal nutrition, not as a formulator of specific diets. Therefore, we always recommend consulting with veterinary professionals or nutritionists before making changes to product formulas or pet food.
Likewise, MCE Global is not responsible for the improper use, improper storage, or poor formulation of products made by third parties from our ingredients.
All products offered by MCE Global are intended exclusively for industrial or professional use, and not for direct sale to the end consumer.
For more technical or commercial information, please contact us directly through our official channels. 👉 https://mceglobal.cl/pages/contact