Hold The Insect Burger Eating Bugs Is Bad For The Climate

New research has cast doubt on the environmental benefits of using insects as a sustainable protein source, challenging the view that they offer a greener alternative to traditional livestock. A study commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) suggests that insect protein might have a far higher environmental impact than initially assumed. While bug-based meals have been heavily promoted as a solution to climate-conscious diets, the findings reveal significant drawbacks when compared to plant-based protein options like soy.

The study focussed on the production and environmental cost of black soldier fly larvae, one of the most commonly proposed insect feeds. These larvae can be grown on various inputs, including food waste, chicken manure, or commercial feed. Even under the most sustainable scenario, where food waste is used, the climate change impact of rearing the larvae was recorded as six times higher than that of soy and nearly double that of fishmeal.

One of the primary drivers of the insect protein’s carbon footprint stems from processing. Refrigerated transportation to keep the larvae dormant, energy-intensive sterilisation through boiling, drying processes, and additional crushing all combine to make it less environmentally friendly. When commercially produced feed is used instead of waste, the impact multiplies further, reaching up to 14 times the climate cost of soy.

While advocates for insect protein often highlight its reduced emissions compared to conventional meat, previous comparisons against chicken protein revealed that both have similar environmental effects per gram. This underscores the challenges of incorporating insects into both human diets and the food chain for livestock without exacerbating emissions. Despite efforts to explore insect feed for animals like pigs, which contribute substantial emissions via feedstock, the benefits remain questionable.

The findings from consultancy firm Ricardo, who conducted the life-cycle assessment for Defra, suggest that the perceived benefits of insect protein may have been overstated. The report acknowledged the potential for future improvements, recommending energy efficiency upgrades and reliance on clean energy to mitigate its environmental impact. Even so, the document concludes that insect protein is far from a universal solution to agricultural emissions and advises against premature implementation without significant advancements in production methods.

Given agriculture’s contribution of 14 per cent to global emissions, finding sustainable protein sources remains critical. However, based on this new research, bug-based proteins are unlikely to replace plant-based alternatives like soy in the foreseeable future.