Run for the roses – regulatory barriers to a circular bioeconomy. Examples from the insect industry

Carla K. Smink, Heidi S. Kristensen and Rikke Dorothea Huulgaard

Chapter 6 in Research Handbook of Innovation in the Circular Bioeconomy, 2025, pp 87-102 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: In Europe, the development of the bioeconomy is identified as a potential response to challenges like climate change, food security, biodiversity loss, and energy security. There are many regulatory challenges to transforming the current linear, fossil-based economy towards a circular bioeconomy. In this chapter, we will illustrate this by using a critical case; the regulation of insect frass (insect feces). Using insect frass as fertilizer follows the circular economy principles, by reintroducing valuable materials into the food production chain. However, the lack of legal clarity has led to uncertainty about how the rules should be interpreted. New baseline standards allowing the use of insect frass as organic fertilizer, introduced in 2021, as well as new fertilizing product regulation, intended to accommodate this lack of clarity. Although this is a step in the right direction, conditions for use are still not aligned with those foreseen for other animal manures.

Keywords: Circular bioeconomy; Regulatory barriers; Insect frass; Circular innovation; Regulatory challenges; Food production chain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035307951
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