EntoBOOST

In the past ten years, the production of insects for food and feed has gone from fiction to reality in Europe. Particularly notable is the black soldier fly, whose larvae demonstrate a remarkable capacity to convert organic wastes into nutrient-rich biomass. With the rise of this sector a variety of research needs have emerged, as outlined by both academic and industry stakeholders. These range from a better understanding of insect physiology and biology for optimal rearing, insights into the interaction between insects’ diet and their performance and safety, to optimized strategies to generate safe insect products that retain useful biological and nutritious properties. 

EntoBOOST brings together a consortium of the leading research groups on farmed insects in Flanders to address knowledge gaps by tackling three questions: 

• Can we identify metabolic, phenotypical or behavioral indicators that reveal stress in insects during rearing
  to guide future discussions on insect welfare?
• Can we (actually) use currently under-utilized organic streams as feed for black soldier fly larvae or do they compromise the safety of these larvae as feed ingredient?
• Can improved processing methods add value to insect ingredients used in feed by reliably improving animal gut health?