The green light for animal and insect meal
In June 2021, the European Parliament approved the use of animal and insect meal as animal feed. What does this actually mean for feed producers?
Pascal Brysse
Animal and insect meal
Let's start by clarifying things: animal meal refers to by-products from slaughtered animals.
By-products? What should we picture here? Bones, intestines and blood plasma are all examples of by-products. These by-products are ground into meal (i.e. powder form) for use as an ingredient in animal feed. Think, for example, of blood meal or bone meal. There is also something called insect oil, a term that leaves little to the imagination: oil made from finely ground insects. Both products may now once again be used in animal feed.
Mad cows
The insect oil mentioned above has already been on the market for some time, but insect meal has not. Just like the use of animal meal, this was blocked for a long time. Why? The ground animal and insect residues caused quite some controversy. Some people view consuming them as a form of cannibalism.
In addition, animal meal suffers from a poor image due to the BSE crisis of 2000, better known as mad cow disease. The disease is caused by small proteins that infect the brains of cattle. A possible cause of this is the use of animal meal (very high in protein). Its use was therefore banned across Europe after the crisis. A crucial turning point in this story is that it is now, in 2021, actually possible to demonstrate that the animal protein does not originate from cattle, thanks to specific tests. Risk of BSE? Virtually nil. Great news, but we remain vigilant: convincing the market remains crucial.
A whole menagerie
There are, of course, clear restrictions regarding the production process of animal meal. In feed for chickens, for example, animal meal from pigs may be used, but not from chickens. A clear distinction between the two production streams will therefore be necessary. In the Netherlands, this has already been done successfully for some time, but the same sticking point applies there too. The market needs to accept the use of animal meal. The United Kingdom still needs to be convinced, and Germany has not yet taken the step either. However, the appeal of independence from the import of protein raw materials remains, rightly, tempting. Not just for Europe, incidentally, but worldwide.
Circular agriculture
What about the cost? Currently, animal meal ends up in pet food or fish feed, formidable competitors for our pigs and chickens. Animal meal is a very high-quality raw material with an optimal amino acid composition. Ideal as an ingredient in feed for young animals, which gradually learn to digest protein sources. "Recycling" processed animal protein can of course lower the price of livestock feed. Note the word "can", since the price depends on many factors.
In short, this form of circular agriculture will have a positive effect on our economy, is of course sustainable (a word that sounds like music to everyone's ears), and may also offer an interesting cost advantage. What's not to like?
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