The sustainability of industrial insect mass rearing for food and feed production: zero waste goals through by-product utilization

Insect production provides an opportunity to solve problems in our food system. Producers are focused on redirecting waste streams to strive for a zero waste system. By-products and leftover substrates generated include: frass, chitin, and lipids. Frass can be beneficial as a plant fertilizer. It is also known to exhibit anti-microbial and anti-pathogenic properties that may be utilized as a potential insecticide. Chitin has similar fertilizer and anti-pathogen properties. Chitin also produces antiinflammatory and antimicrobial properties, potentially improving immune responses in animals. Fatty acids found in lipids may serve as environmentally friendly biodiesel. Additionally, the oleic acids found in lipids have known health benefits for humans and other animals. As insect systems expand, zero waste goals will increase in importance.