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Insect Based Proteins

Insects have become a popular topic in regards to alternative protein sources in recent years, not just in relation to animal feed but in many facets of production. However, for aquaculture and tilapia especially, insect proteins compose a portion of their naturally occuring diet (Mjourn, 2010) and have been incorporated in study with encouraging results. Insect production can also be more sustainable and rapid than other types of protein production. Some areas such as Sub-Saharan Africa also lack consistent access to fish meal as a protein source and could benefit from a more versatile production method for protein (Wachira, 2024).

"Insect production requires six times less feed than conventional livestock to produce the same amount of proteins. In addition, the greenhouse gas emission from the insects is much less compared to the conventional livestock in the production of food/feed. Further, the insects can be mass produced using organic waste streams, which cannot be included directly in livestock and fish feeds"  Wachira, 2024

Black Soldier Fly Larvae

Wachira (2024) study utilized Black Soldier Fly Larvae as a protein substitute for fish meal and found that it can be used as a replacement for fishmeal up to 100% in Nile Tilapia without negative impact. Interestingly the study actually noted a 15% increase in weight when comparing fish grown on the black soldier fly larvae meal versus the control fishmeal based diet. Larvae were raised on spent brewers grains and fish species utlized for the study were Nile Tilapia. Wheat pollard meal and germ maize meal were also ingredients in test and control feeds, with crude protein levels maintained around 30% for all feeds. Tilapia fingerlings were fed 3% of their body weight twice daily for 20 weeks prior to studies conclusion. In results Wachira (2024) also noted that utilizing Black Soldier Fly Larvae resulted in a 14.4% decrease in feed cost over Fishmeal. 

Yones (2015) corroborated the results shown in Wachira (2024) as their study compared Poultry by Product Meal, Fishmeal, and Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal. They also noted that Black Soldier Fly Larvae present a valuable source of

omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 fatty acids vital for fish nutrition. With insect meal as the main protein source Nile Tilapia showed no significant growth variation from fish fed poultry by product as a protein source or a mixture of both. They concluded that fully replacing fishmeal with Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal had no negative impacts on fillet composition, growth parameters, immune health or feed cost. 

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Furthering this, Cadinu (2020) discusses studies where Black Soldier Fly Larvae successfully replaced 25% and 50% of fishmeal and the 36% and 72% of fish oil in feed for rainbow trout. They also discuss a study where Black Soldier Fly Larvae replaced fishmeal for Atlantic Salmon without fillet sensory attributes, fish gut health or histological parameters being negatively impacted. 

Red Wiggler Worms

El-Ouny (2023) introduces the idea of using Red Wiggler Worms as an additional protein component in addition to fishmeal, substituting some of the less sustainable protein source. The research was performed on Nile Tilapia fingerlings in a recirculating aquaculture system fed red wiggler worms cultured on vegetable by products. Study concluded after 90 days and indicated an increased growth and feed conversion ratio in fish fed red wiggler worms up to 20% compared to the control. Additionally fish fed the worms had an increase in crude protein content and amino acid profiles by 15-20%. 

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Maggot Meal (Domestica mucosa)

Obeng (2015) reviewed the nutrients found in housefly maggots when fed one of three feeds (animal blood, poultry waste or brewers spent) in relation to their potential as a feed source for Nile Tilapia production in Africa. The study found that poultry waste had a high potential for use in farming maggots, but that any of the proposed maggot feeds could be used for various values to produce a protein source for fish feed. The maggot meal produced had comparable protein levels to fishmeal, is highly digestable for the fish and is cheaper to produce than fishmeal. 

Hussein (2017) was performed to determine the potential of dairy cattle manure as a substrate for housefly maggot growth and to then learn about their nutrient profile following this feeding regiment. The study also notes the possibility of their use as a replacement or supplement for unsustainable fishmeal use in aquaculture. The research concluded that dairy cattle manure is a suitable growth bed for maggots and that when raised with these methods, maggot meal had a similar nutrient profile for amino acids and protein percentages as fish meal, outside of omega 3 fatty acids as maggot meal fed this substrate did not posess any significant amount of fatty acids. This is important to note for fish dietary needs as supplementation would be necessary, despite this maggot meal was noted to be a calcium and phosphorus rich source for feed.

Giant Snail Meal

Image by Louis KIRNER
Image by Zdeněk Macháček

Chaudhary (2018) aimed to determine the potential of Giant African Snails as a protein source for aquacultural feeds compared to soybeans. Protein was maintained at 45% for fish and fed with data gathered every 15 days. The study concluded that Giant African Snail is a protein source viable to replace soybean meal completely though growth rate was higher in those fish fed both soybean and Giant African Snail as opposed to those only fed either soybean or Giant African Snail for protein. This study is included to expand on the protein alternatives and establish the potential for snail meal especially in areas where the Giant African Snails are invasive to “kill two birds with one stone” by reducing invasive species load and establish a more sustainable protein source within aquaculture. Snail meal inclusion was noted to have potential for complete replacement of soybean meal as a protein. Additional ingredients to both the control feed where soybean meal was the primary protein and study feed where snail meal was the primary protein were Rice Bran, Wheat Flour, and Mustard Oil Cake. Nile Tilapia fingerlings were fed both control and study feeds at 5% of their bodyweight for two months for study resulsts. The study also noted that fish yield, feed conversion ratios and growth parameters for fish fed snail meal as the primary protein were not statistically significantly different from those fed other protein sources. Additional research is necessary to determine is replacement value for fishmeal specifically but it holds merit to be utilized as a primary protein source in its comparisons to soybean meal in Chaudhary (2018).

Additional Potential of Insect Based Production

Zhu (2026) provides insights on reducing waste through the use of insect bioconversion (vermicomposting) to eliminate sludge and biofilter waste from aquaponic production, as well as plant based organic waste such as stem and leaf parts from inedible plants (tomato plants post harvest e.g.). The study suggests that insect bioconversion would be an inexpensive and sustainable method to reduce and potentially remove these wastes from aquaponic production, creating a more sustainable and cost effective system.

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Gonzalez (2026) reviews the potential of Black Soldier Fly Larvae frass (droppings) as a substrate and nutrient source for several crop seedlings: bell peppers, tomatoes and kale. The study shows that thermocomposting followed by vermicomposting can provide a nutrient rich substrate for seedlings. The frass was determined to be suitable for various species although at specific inclusion rates to maintain health and growth rates for the plants. The frass could be used as a growing medium or used to create a compost tea for further nutrient input in hydroponic systems.

Abad (2024) discusses the potential and benefits of vermicomposting through worms to facilitate the composting of organic materials in agriculture. The study demonstrates increased nutrient composition and microflora habitat with vermicomposted materials facilitating a faster and more thorough breakdown even post consumption. The study highlights its potential as a replacement or method of reducing synthetic agricultural inputs and reducing waste materials. The work here shows that cultivating insects is not only a way to provide a sustainable protein source and reduce system waste but to potentially produce an organic nutrient source for plants that can either be sold, used in traditional agricultural practices, or theoretically turned into a compost tea and used within an aquaponics or hydroponics system to increase production.

Challenges in Insect Production

Cadinu (2020) reviews the challenges for modern insect production including, Westerners’ conceptions of insects and lack of acceptance of them as a feed source. Another highlighted challenge is that there is not enough knowledge currently on industrial level efficiency in insect production as it is currently a labor-intensive process, though innovation could aid this significantly and is an important area for further research projects.

Chitin is another current challenge for implementation of insect based proteins in aquaculture feeds. Eggink (2022) studied the digestibility of chitin, a primary component in insect exoskeletons, as it relates to the potential of Black Soldier Fly Larvae as an alternative feed source for tilapia and rainbow trout. The study performed tests by running the larvae through three different size sieves, showing that a fine sieving method produced higher digestibility than course sieve. Additionally, the higher the level of overall chitin in the feed, the lower the digestibility (Eggink, 2022). 

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