Insects as feed for livestock production

Livestock production makes up 70 to 80% of the world’s agricultural land use and yet only produces ∼18% of all calories and 25% of all proteins consumed by humans. To grow food for livestock uses 33% of the world’s cropland. Although lifestyle changes, such as vegetarianism and veganism, may help to achieve sustainability in food production, the global demand for meat consumption is still increasing, so it is also crucial to consider more efficient ways to rear livestock. Insects as animal feed can supplement the current sources of livestock feed, which mostly comprise fishmeal and soybean meal. The use of insects as livestock feed can improve sustainability because insects can transform low-value organic wastes (e.g., fruits, vegetables, and even manure) into high-quality feed. Insect ingredients are also a valuable source of nutrition for animals with many possible health benefits.