This is one of the latest publications from Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing in their renowned Series in Agricultural Science. Edited by Adriana Casillas (Tebrio, Spain), this collaborative project includes over 40 authors, offering a comprehensive insight to the emerging industry of insects as food and feed.
The book provides a well-structured and unbiased overview of all discussed topics. Divided into three sections, the first focuses on Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly, BSF), the second addresses other insect species, with a particular emphasis on Tenebrio molitor (Yellow Mealworm), and the final section highlights challenges relating to consumer safety and attitudes. The book is easy to understand, with highly relevant content which could cater for students, academics and production managers alike.
One key factor to the successful integration of any alternative protein into the food system is the nutritional value. This book provides a thorough, in-depth and up-to-date reference for all discussed species, highlighting both the macro- and micronutrient content. The authors also report species-specific nitrogenic conversion factors for protein – this adjusts for chitin which facilitates a more accurate comparison between different insect species than using a common conversion factor. The influence of insect inclusion on monogastric farm animal diets is discussed not only in regard to the health of the animal, production and nutrient bioavailability, but also addresses how an insect-based feed can influence meat texture, quality and nutritional value – an often overlooked aspect despite the high relevance to the consumer. Similarly, where aquaculture is also discussed, the authors distinguish between different fish species rather than grouping them collectively, adding value to the chapter.
Despite the in-depth discussion of animal health, the work is restricted to non-ruminant species (pig, poultry, fish). This is unsurprising, given that EU legislation prohibits insect inclusion in rumen animal (cattle, sheep, goat) diets. However, since insects are permitted and deployed in ruminant feed in non-EU regions, this limitation somewhat narrows the book’s international perspective. In addition, there is limited discussion on the prospect of human consumption of insects, which could be considered misleading given the inclusion of ‘food’ in the title.
The guides on insect rearing, especially for the mealworm, are excellent. They provide information often omitted from even the most thorough protocols and are highly recommended as a starting point for those looking to rear the discussed species in either industry or research. The book also offers strong coverage of insect substrates (feed), which is currently a very interesting area of discussion, given that substrate choice influences insect production capacity and nutritional content.
Often missing from academic books such as this, it highlights the diseases common in insect production systems, with photos for mealworms, which makes for a useful reference. Management techniques and hygiene protocols are also reviewed and discussed to prevent transmission between stock, which has both industry and academic relevance. The discussion deepens by highlighting not only entomopathogens but also animal diseases such as Newcastle Disease. Newcastle Disease is zoonotic, but there is no reference to the transmission of non-zoonotic human disease or prion-related diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, and the potential for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Although the book provides an excellent overview of BSF and mealworms, with some discussion on various cricket species and Musca domestica (Housefly), its contents would have greatly benefitted from the inclusion of other species such as Silkworm (Bombyx mori) or Lesser Mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus), which are permitted for inclusion into animal feeds in EU territories, including Northern Ireland (UK). Further, regarding the legislation, this book offers an excellent reference to EU laws, with Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 and the updated Regulation (EU) 2021/1925 being referenced throughout. There is, however, a lack of information on the legislative status of insects for feed in Great Britain and non-EU territories, and there is no mention of the legislation regulating use in human food whatsoever. In conclusion, we found this publication engaging, relevant, and of significant value. We recommend it to readers interested in the application of insects in livestock feed.
