The Polish company HiProMine has just launched a large insect facility in Karkoszów (Lubuskie Voivodeship), located only 100 km from Berlin. The annual production capacity of livestock is estimated at 25,000 tons and the same amount of organic fertilizer. It is the largest plant in Central Europe, with proprietary technology for insect breeding and rearing, employing many scientists conducting numerous research on the properties of protein in the nutrition of various animal species.
“Insect protein, which in the natural environment is a basic component of fish diets, is characterized by optimal amino acids profile,” said Monika Dudek. “Moreover, ingredients with functional properties contained in insect-derived products play an important role in improving the fish health.”
“When insect-derived products are used in salmonid diets, both high digestion of crude protein and crude fat can be noted. In other words, nutrients in insect raw materials are characterized by high availability for the gastrointestinal tract, especially in the case of carnivorous fish. Additionally, favorable rearing results have been noted and improved intestinal microbiota composition, which is crucial for fish health,” explained Zuzanna Mikołajczak, fish nutrition specialist at HiProMine.
The usage of insect protein as a dietary component in fish can bring a number of benefits, such as an increase in feed efficiency, improved fish growth and reduced mortality. “Our production is ecological, minimizes the carbon footprint and fits into the ideas of broadly understood care for environmental protection and sustainable development,” said Maciej Szumiński, sales and marketing director at HiProMine. “Building a plant where we will produce insect protein and fat was an enormous challenge. However, we believe that our scientific achievements, translated on a large scale, will bring tangible results both for the environment and aquaculture development.”
“When it comes to healthy and sustainable nutrition of farmed fish, insects are the future,” explained Szumiński. “Aquaculture production has become a key sector in food production, providing high-quality protein for an increasing human population. However, as production increases, challenges arise in ensuring sustainable and efficient production. In recent years, interest in insect-derived products as valuable raw materials in aquaculture nutrition and as a tool for aquatic environment protection has been growing significantly.”
