Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Animal Feed Formulations Containing Conventional and Insect-Based Protein Sources

Abstract

The environmental burden of widely used protein sources in animal feeds, such as soybean and fishmeal, has raised concerns about the sustainability of current livestock production systems. In response, alternative protein sources are being explored, with insect meal emerging as a promising candidate. This study conducted a comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of four compound pig feed formulations differing in protein composition, incorporating soybean meal, fishmeal, and Tenebrio molitor (insect) meal. The LCA followed ISO 14040/44 standards and applied both mass-based and protein-based functional units (FUs) to examine how FU choice influences environmental outcomes. Results showed that crop-derived ingredients, particularly soybean meal, drove most environmental burdens due to land use change and fertilizer inputs. Replacing soybean with insect meal led to impact reductions in key environmental categories. Insect meal’s scalability, efficient land use, and potential waste valorisation supported its role as a sustainable alternative. The study also highlighted key sustainability issues not assessed by LCA, such as overfishing and ecosystem disruption, associated with fishmeal. Overall, insect meal appeared to be a strong replacement for soybean and fishmeal, with soy substitution proving key to reducing environmental burdens. Finally, the protein-based FU was more relevant given the study’s nutritional focus.