The feed insects market - Germany

1.2 Global growing market

Although the newness of the market in many regions makes estimates difficult, experts agree on the future growth of the market. In particular, the publication of a report in **** by the FAO(***) advocating large-scale consumption of insects strongly confirmed and established the potential of the edible insect market.more and more edible insects are finding their way onto our plates - forecasts indicate that by ****, global sales of edible insects will be approximately $*.** billion. This compares to sales of around $*** million in ****. According to estimates by the Heinrich Böll Foundation, this means that sales of edible insects will more than double in **** compared to ****. Edible insects include grasshoppers, mealworms, buffalo worms and crickets. These insects are processed in the form of pasta, candy bars, and flour, for example.

Market volume of edible insects Worldwide, **** - ****, in millions of U.S. dollars Source: ****

The maturity of markets varies significantly by region due to limited social acceptance in many countries, especially in the West. The Asian market is the most developed, totaling $***.* millionin ****. The importance and growth of Asian population and economic development are significant growth drivers for the sector, and the Asian edible insects market revenue is expected to reach US$*** ...

1.3 National market

While eating insects is a traditional practice in some parts of the world, particularly in over *** countries, it is not yet widespread in Europe. However, companies are trying to popularize insect-based foods in the West , touting the environmental benefits and high protein content of such foods. In ****, the European Union approved the use of certain insect species as food , following the recommendations of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (***), which has been promoting the use of insects as an important food source for ** years. Some insect species, such as the mealworm and the migratory locust, are already available in some EU countries, and further approvals are pending. Insects are one of mankind's oldest sources of protein, and their nutritional composition varies depending on species, diet and life cycle stage. In Germany, mainly small start-ups are active, trying to establish themselves on the market with the first insect products. In the future, more efficient breeding methods and industrial production processes are expected to reduce costs and expand the market for insect foods[***].

The market for edible insects in Germany is still relatively small. There are some companies involved in the industry of insect breeding and processing for human and ...

2.1 The typical consumer

In recent years, interest in sustainable nutrition has increased significantly. A growing global population and awareness of the environmental impact of meat production have led more and more people to seek alternative sources of protein. Meat substitutes, edible insects and lab-grown meat are three innovative approaches that have the potential to revolutionize the food market and make our diets more sustainable.

Meat substitutes such as tofu, seitan and tempeh have been around for decades, but more recently, companies such as Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods have developed plant-based meat alternatives that are remarkably close to real meat in both taste and texture. These products are made from plant-based proteins such as peas, soy or wheat and offer a more environmentally friendly and healthier alternative to traditional meat.

Edible insects are another promising source of protein that have long been consumed in many parts of the world. Insects such as grasshoppers, crickets and mealworms are rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, and have a much smaller environmental footprint than conventional animal agriculture. They also require less water, feed and land area. In Europe and North America, insects are slowly gaining acceptance and are increasingly offered in the form of protein-rich snacks, bars ...

2.2 Insects as a meat alternative

Although the consumption of insects is rare in Germany from a culinary point of view, there is an increasing demand, especially from people who want to avoid meat or other animal products for ecological or ethical reasons. The industrial farming of insects offers ecological advantages , as it requires less space, feed, water and energy compared to traditional animal husbandry.

The use of insects as a meat alternative of the future has many advantages and is considered by many people as more than just a way to add variety to the plate. According to the FAO (***), edible insects can make a significant contribution to global food security.

Harvesting and breeding insects opens up new entrepreneurial opportunities, especially outside Europe and for women and people without land of their own. Most importantly, however, edible insects are being discussed as an alternative source of animal protein to replace meat. With the world's population on the rise, this is of great importance, as it is estimated that by **** there will be over * billion people on the planet. Both they and their farm animals need sufficient protein.

From a nutritional and ecological perspective, there is much to be said for including insects as a food ...

3.1 Value chain

The value chain for edible insects and insect products consists of four main stages: Breeding, primary processing (***), and distribution. Market actors operate at one or more of these stages.

Therefore, three types of actors can be identified: Livestock producers, processors, and traders. However, many companies operate at multiple stages and are therefore grower-processors, processor-distributors, or combine all three roles.

In addition, although the end users are private individuals, several of these companies are also or even exclusively engaged in B*B business.

3.2 Manufacturing process

Insects are killed for processing in the food industry either by heat or cold and can be consumed in various forms. Thermal or non-thermal processes such as irradiation or treatment with electrical pulses are used for decontamination. Insects can be preserved by refrigeration, freezing, or drying. Different technologies such as convective drying, contact drying or jet drying can be used for drying insects. The choice of drying method depends on the initial condition and the desired end product.

Source: ****

4.1 products on the market

Source: ****

In the product categories studied, the most commonly used insect species were house cricket and buffalo worm. These two species seem to be particularly popular with manufacturers. In comparison, mealworms and grasshoppers were used less frequently. This could be due to different reasons, such as taste, texture or availability of the insect species. Nevertheless, the results show that insects are an interesting and alternative protein source in various product categories and are becoming increasingly important.

Source: ****

snack varieties

higher insect content of over ** percent

Source: ****

4.2 Niche product: comparison of insect and factory farming

In today's world, more and more emphasis is being placed on sustainable and environmentally friendly nutrition. Insects represent an interesting alternative to conventional animal products.

First of all, the edible portion of insects, at **%, is significantly higher than that of cattle, where only **% can be utilized. This means that insects produce less waste and provide more food.

The protein content of insects is also higher at **% than cattle, which have a protein content of **%. Proteins are important building blocks for our bodies and play a key role in muscle development and maintenance.

Comparison of insects and cattle Germany, ****, in % Source: ****

The statistics show that the edible portion and the protein content are higher for insects than for cattle. Thereby, the edible portion varies depending on the species:

Comparison of edible fraction Germany, ****, in % Source: ****

The calorie content of insects is also significantly higher compared to other meat products:

Comparison calorie content per *** grams Germany, ****, in grams Source: Heinrich Böll Foundation Another advantage of insects is feed efficiency. While cattle require large amounts of feed to produce a certain amount of meat, insects manage with much less feed. This saves resources and is therefore more sustainable.

In terms of emissions, insects ...

4.3 Edible insect species

There are *,*** edible species of insects worldwide. Insects are not considered meat because they are cold-blooded animals. They contain on average **-**% protein and **-**% fat in their dry matter. Insects also provide important nutrients such as copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, vitamins, and fiber. However, the nutrient content of insects can be influenced by various factors such as feed and husbandry conditions. In terms of nutrient composition, insect species such as grasshopper, honeybee, silkworm, mopane caterpillar, mealworm, and weevil larvae have been compared with conventional meats such as beef, chicken, and pork, and some were found to be equally or even more nutritious. The most widely consumed edible insects are as follows:

Share of total edible insect species Germany, ****, in % Source: ****

5.1 Regulation

The European Commission has published a compilation of important facts on the authorization of insects in food. Currently, four species of insects are approved as food in the EU in various forms of presentation: Flour beetle, migratory locust, house cricket and grain mold beetle/buffalo worm.

Manufacturers must apply for approval for each insect they wish to market. Approval is granted under the regulations for "novel foods" that were not widely consumed in the EU before May ****. The European Food Safety Authority (***) conducts a full scientific evaluation, and member states have the right to vote on the approval.

Foods containing insects must be clearly labeled in the ingredient list. Allergy statements are also required, as the consumption of insect proteins can cause allergic reactions in people with allergies to crustaceans, dust mites and mollusks.

The environmental impact of insect farming for food is positive, as insects have efficient feed conversion and consume fewer greenhouse gas emissions, water and land resources. The Food and Agriculture Organization (***) considers insects an important source of food in the **st century and recommends them as an alternative to conventional livestock.

Regulations on "novel foods" have been in effect since ****, and insects have been explicitly classified as ...

6.1 Segmentation of the players

• Plumento foods
• ZIRP Insects GmbH
• Catch-Your-Bug
• Swarm Nutrition
• Wicked Cricket
• Kupfer Innovative Food GmbH & Co. KG
• Essento
• Frank Dammann Snack insects
• Fauna Topics - Zoobedarf, Zucht- und Handels-GmbH