Black soldier flies: a protein for pets, and maybe people too

If you saw our recent Sustainability Times story on the climate impacts of pet ownership, you may be wondering how to become a more ecofriendly pet owner. One of the solutions is to dial down the meat products in your pet’s dish much as you’re doing for your own meatless meals – because you are, right?

There’s a startup company in Germany that’s already on the case so that your furry friends can be good boys and girls too. They’re making a pet food with meatless ingredients from insects at Eat Small, launched by veterinarian Veronique Glorieux and graphic artist Gema Aparicio in Berlin.

The Eat Small team uses the Hermetia illucens – commonly known as the black soldier fly – to create their pet products. “Like fish, poultry, pork or beef, Hermetia’s nymphs are a delicious source of protein and nutrients,” the company explains, adding that it’s certified in Europe for animals. “We chose Hermetia illucens for its rapid reproduction and growth cycle, as well as its minimal need for water, food and space.”

The flour made from the fly’s larval stage delivers a 60 percent protein level when compared with beef at just 40 percent, says Eat Small. That makes for a high-quality product while reducing the land, water, methane and other climate impacts of products based on animal protein, all without sacrificing on nutrition.

“Insect proteins from Hermetia contain all essential amino acids that carnivores like dogs need,” they explain. Calcium, iron, B-complex vitamins – they’re all there for dogs. Cats have slightly different needs but the Eat Small team is working with a different kind of insect protein to create a blend for them too.

Does the science hold up? According to research published last October in the journal Foods, the answer is yes. The literature review completed by Yu-Shiang Wang and Matan Shelomi at National Taiwan University in Taipei looked specifically at the black soldier fly as an alternative for both pets and perhaps their humans.

“It absolutely has a place in the future, both as a waste recycler and as animal feed,” the authors said, while noting issues like the regulatory environment, scale of production and other factors are in play.

So it’s not likely that your dog reads the literature or the labels, and just wants the chow to taste good?

“Besides being delicious when prepared properly, insects are rich sources of proteins, good fats, and certain trace elements,” the Taiwan team said, speaking to the humans too. “Their greatest advantage over other animal meats, which underlies their frequent championing as saviors in a food-insecure world, is their lower environmental impact.”

At Eat Small, they’ve made that comparison easy to see. Pets can consume 80 to 100 percent of the insect, rather than leaving bones or other waste. It takes far less in terms of inputs, and the total carbon emissions are impressively, almost off-the-charts lower when compared with chicken, pork or beef.

As for products, the German company offers a dog food mix and three kinds of treats. They also sell a compostable poop bag, solving yet another perplexing problem for pet owners avoiding plastic.

With all the interest in low-carbon pet foods, Eat Small isn’t the only game in town – or even the only company in Germany. The Bavaria-based Josera has a Green PetFood line that’s worth checking out, while Canada’s Enterra Feed Corporation is banking on insects for the future of livestock and pet food too.