Life Cycle Inventory Analysis of Prospective Insect Based Feed Production in West Africa

Martin Roffeis, Joana Almeida, Maureen Elizabeth Wakefield, Tatiana Raquel Alves Valada, Emilie Devic, N’Golopé Koné, Marc Kenis, Saidou Nacambo, Elaine Charlotte Fitches, Gabriel K. D. Koko, Erik Mathijs, Wouter M. J. Achten and Bart Muys
Additional contact information
Martin Roffeis: Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, KU Leuven, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
Joana Almeida: Edge Environment Pty Ltd, Manly, NSW 2095, Australia
Maureen Elizabeth Wakefield: Department of Plant Protection, Fera Science Ltd, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK
Tatiana Raquel Alves Valada: Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, KU Leuven, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
Emilie Devic: Entofood Sdn Bhd, Kuala Lumpur 50470, Malaysia
N’Golopé Koné: Institut d’Economie Rurale, Centre Régional de Recherche Agricole de Sotuba, Bamako BP 258, Mali
Marc Kenis: CABI, CH-2800 Delémont, Switzerland
Saidou Nacambo: CABI, CH-2800 Delémont, Switzerland
Elaine Charlotte Fitches: Department of Plant Protection, Fera Science Ltd, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK
Gabriel K. D. Koko: Fish for Africa (FfA)—Ghana Ltd by Guarantee, Ashaiman Accra, P.O. Box AS273, Ghana
Wouter M. J. Achten: Institute for Environmental Management and Land-use Planning, Université libre de Bruxelles, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
Bart Muys: Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, KU Leuven, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 10, 1-27

Abstract: While the concept of insect based feeds (IBFs) promises great potential, especially in developing countries, the sustainability performance of IBF production remains widely underexplored. Drawing on experimental data from rearing trials in West Africa, three different insect production systems were modelled ex-ante. The generic models served as a basis to analyse and compare the process performances of different IBF production systems using Musca domestica and Hermetia illucens reared on different substrates. The results show that the input efficiency in the production of IBF is largely determined by the quality of rearing substrates, the larval development time and the employed inoculation practises, i.e., the method by which eggs or larvae are added to rearing substrates. The H. illucens system ranked highest for conversion efficiency (substrate input per IBF output), but showed substantially higher inputs in labour, fossil energy and output of wastewater. M. domestica systems operated at lower conversion efficiencies, which resulted in higher outputs of residue substrates, together with higher emissions, land requirements, built infrastructure and water. By offering full disclosure of generic inventory data, this study provides data and inspiration for prospect research and development activities and offers a reference to future life cycle assessments (LCAs) on IBF.

Keywords: Sustainable Development; Eco-design; ex-ante assessment; environmental LCA; LCC; insect-based protein; product development; livestock feed; circular economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Working Paper: Life Cycle Inventory analysis of prospective insect based feed production in West Africa (2017)
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