The lack of protein sources in several parts of the world is triggering the search for flexible and sustainable protein production technologies. Modular insect production technologies are recognized as a potential solution. This study is aimed to define the potential of food and feed production and processing technologies transfer for the design of sustainable modular insect production units. It includes the identification of production requirements of modular, transportable and wide range of feeds applicable technology for two insect species (Hermetia illucens and Tenebrio molitor). The design allowed for the economic analysis and Life cycle assessment (LCA) of modular waste treatment H. illucens technology, further compared to attributional and consequential LCA of industrial-scale production of the same species fed on food industry side streams. The reference environmental impact results of industrial-scale insect production were based on dataset covering nineteen-month period (2015–2017) of H. illucens production and processing with measured variables of water use, feed inputs, electricity and heat consumption, production yields from an industrial producer (Protix, Dongen, The Netherlands). Data gathering of insect processing included direct measurements of similar industrial processes in food and feed industry and material flow modeling. The results indicated that if attributional LCA rules are applied (feed is a free waste material with zero negative burden) both industrial and modular technologies are impacting the environment in the range of 38.83-77.67 mPt (mPt – millipoint, 1 kPt is annual impact of one European person, IMPACT2002+ Methodology) with each tonne of waste material treated. If substitution of conventional waste treatment technologies (composting, anaerobic digestion) is considered (consequential LCA approach) then industrial insect production results in positive environmental impact in the range of -155.34 to -233 mPt for each tonne of treated material. Modular waste treatment insect technologies were depended on the type of waste material treated and reached impacts from 0.49 mPt to -199.22 mPt for tonne of waste treated. Both approaches were financially viable, especially if resulted products are sold for minimal prices. Therefore, modular insect production technologies are economically and environmentally viable option for the treatment of some waste types with some insect species (H. illucens). Further research for variations in insect species, production technologies and feed materials are required.

Insect value chains evolve in Europe are moving from pilot trials to large-scale industrial production systems. Such a shift, however, is facing challenges in optimizing efficiency and manage potential risks. SUSINCHAIN, a Horizon 2020 European-funded project started in 2019, aims to define the leverages and solutions for the development of sustainable insect value chains, for both food and feed products. In order to assure the sustainability of insect production and consumption it is necessary to define the optimal conditions from multiple perspectives: economic, environmental, safety, nutritional, etc. Such perspectives have different weights at various stages of the value chain. Aforementioned properties are often in contradiction to each other (e.g. increasing economic value versus maximizing safety or reducing environmental impact). Currently Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the standard for the assessment of environmental impact, allowing experts to take into account multiple criteria at the same time. Nevertheless, the application of LCA to emerging insect production systems is not straightforward, mainly because of the lack of data and emerging technological scales. A possible solution to this issue stems from combining multi-objective optimization algorithms (MOA) with modular LCA approaches. In order to reflect the variety of parameters and conditions of production and processing, value chains are represented as a combination of modules from feed and food industries. Each module is characterized by inputs and outputs which define its functional value. Therefore, the importance of different inputs and outputs (properties of subsystems) is defined for each module or agglomeration of modules. Once the important features are defined the MOA can be applied to define the optimal value chains, which in turn make it possible to satisfy the needs of different actors in the chain. To compensate for the current lack of data, it could be possible to use machine learning technique to adapt modules from similar systems (feed and food production and processing) to the specific case study of insect production. In a first step, the different criteria that will be considered by the proposed approach for MOA are input parameters: feed (protein, fat content, carbs…), utilities (energy, water, air, chemicals…); and output parameters: yield and frass (relevant nutritional or technical properties) and environmental impacts (direct emissions into air, water and land). Moreover, all the inputs and outputs include associated functions of cost/price and indirect environmental impacts.

General improvements to insect sustainability performance can be expected from the increase of the technology readiness level and economy of scale, including more advanced players in the industry. The talk will highlight how LCA based sensitivity analysis is a useful guidance for industrial producers interested in a holistic approach to managing their environmental impact profile. Focus will be on the quantitative environmental impact of shifting to non-utilized side-streams for feed. Insights will be also be shared about how insects for food and feed can fit into national and international programs that attempt a holistic environmental impact reduction. In particular, results will be discussed for how the switch to renewable energy is particularly important for bringing the global warming impact of insect production below the levels realized by nature-based production systems not so strongly dependent on energy use, such as fishmeal and crops.

The production of insects as feed has much wider sustainability benefits than only providing a sustainable protein source: it can connect the sustainable production of livestock such as pigs and poultry with sustainable crop production. Thus, the production of insects as feed can be a solid base for a circular agriculture. Here, we present data on (1) the consequences of the replacement of fish meal by black soldier fly meal for livestock production including economic feasibility and (2) the effects of waste stream of black soldier fly production on crop growth and crop resilience.