Selecció d'espècies d'insecte per a la seva cria i explotació com a pinso per a animals monogàstrics : un enfocament biològic i de sostenibilitat

Abstract

In recent decades, interest in the use of insects as a food source for monogastric animals

has significantly increased both in the scientific community and in the agri-food industry.

This interest is based on the need to find sustainable alternatives to traditional protein

sources, such as soy and fishmeal, which have a high environmental impact. Soy

production is associated with massive deforestation, especially in the Amazon, causing

habitat loss and a decrease in biodiversity. Fishmeal, obtained from fishing and

aquaculture, contributes to the overexploitation of fish stocks and the spread of diseases,

affecting the sustainability of the oceans.

This study explores the viability of breeding three insect species: the black soldier fly

(Hermetia illucens), the mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), and the domestic cricket (Acheta

domesticus) for animal feed production. These insects are promising candidates due to

their high efficiency in food conversion, ability to recycle organic waste, and reduced

water and land requirements.

The main objective is to assess the biological, environmental, and sustainability

efficiency of each of these species to determine their suitability for sustainable animal

feed production. The methodology includes a review of the scientific literature, analysis

of the species' life cycles, evaluation of their ability to convert organic waste into useful

biomass, and comparison of the nutritional value with traditional protein sources. Aspects

such as water consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and land use are also

considered.

The results show that insects have high food conversion efficiency, recycle organic

waste, and require less water and land than traditional sources. Their production

generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change mitigation.

The produced biomass is comparable in nutritional value, providing an adequate and

healthy diet for monogastric animals.

The conclusions indicate that insect-based feed production is a more sustainable

alternative with a lower environmental impact than traditional sources. Replacing soy

and fishmeal with insects could alleviate pressure on natural ecosystems, reduce

deforestation, and minimize the overexploitation of fish stocks and the spread of

diseases. This contributes to global sustainability and food security, highlighting the

importance of the study in the context of sustainable agri-food practices. Implementing

this alternative could revolutionize the agri-food industry, offering innovative and

sustainable solutions for the future of animal feeding