Value for the territory

The larvae of the soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) are reared worldwide as a source of protein that can be used in domestic animal feeds, in aquaculture and in pig and poultry farming. Insect breeding also yields soil improvers for agriculture and derivatives for the chemical industry.

The use of insects in feeds is a highly sustainable way of producing animal protein, due to the low consumption of resources entailed, extremely low CO2 emissions from the production processes, reduced water consumption.

The European Union supports the breeding of these larvae because they can be cultivated using many types of organic, agricultural and food residues, giving rise to a virtuous process of circular economy. In recent years, the Commission has issued several regulatory acts, paving the way for the development of the sector.

Since 2017, specific regulations have been approved on the use of insect derivatives in the feeding of fish, pets, chickens and pigs.

Recently, the sale of products for human consumption made from edible insect species has been authorised under certain conditions.