INSECT-BASED INGREDIENTS
Understanding BSFL meal as a functional feed ingredient for aquaculture Nick Piggott, Nutrition Technologies
Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) meal stands out as a highly nutritious and sustainable protein source for animal feed, offering more than just protein alone. It provides a comprehensive nutritional profile, encompassing a well-balanced mix of fats, carbohydrates, fibers, and essential minerals. Its composition includes crucial components vital for various aspects of animal health and performance - its rich mineral content and amino acid profile are particularly beneficial for driving development in aquaculture. While it has gained recent attention as a novel alternative feed ingredient, BSFL has long been
recognized as a traditional component in the diets of many animals. Considering the evolutionary diet of large fish in aquaculture, which includes arthropods like crustaceans and insects, integrating BSFL meal aligns with their natural feeding habits.
Functional properties While BSFL may be an age-old component of wild fish and crustacean diets, it has recently garnered attention for its multifunctional benefits that extend beyond just nutrition. Industrial production of commercial dried insect meal products has revealed several advantages,
Aquafeed: Advances in Processing & Formulation Vol 16 Issue 2 2024
41