During Petfood Forum 2018, three experts on insect as pet food ingredients will participate in roundtable discussions.
“It’s really exciting to see Petfood Forum offer a session on insects this year,” said Liz Koutsos, PhD, president of EnviroFlight. In her presentation, Koutsos will update attendees on the latest research and development in the use of insects as pet food ingredients.
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“At EnviroFlight, we will be part of the solutions that drive next generation animal and human nutrition, and we are taking a huge leap forward this year with the opening of our first commercial-scale plant. We are excited about the future of insects and glad to share that enthusiasm with others!”
EnviroFlight specializes in black soldier fly larvae meal. Another company focused on black soldier fly larvae is EVO Conversion Systems. EVO focuses on using black soldier fly larvae to produce food while dealing with food waste.
“What has been truly amazing is the level at which we [EVO Conversion Systems] have been accepted,” Jeffery K. Tomberlin, PhD, associate professor in the department of entomology at Texas A&M University and chairman of EVO. “The idea of sustainable conversion of food waste into protein for use as animal feed gets people excited. They love the idea of protecting the environment.”
Tomberlin’s presentation will talk about the global market for insect-based ingredients in pet food. While use of insects in pet food is expanding worldwide, the precise nutritional value and health effects are still being discerned.
“There is much we don’t yet know about feeding insects to dogs and cats,” said pet food industry consultant Mark Finke, PhD, who will compare the nutritional value of insects during his Petfood Forum presentation. “While they would likely be fine and indeed many species of wild canine and felines typically include insects in their diets, we just don’t know much yet.”
Petfood Forum 2018
Learn more about insects' inclusion in dog and cat diets at Petfood Forum 2018. Petfood Forum provides an opportunity for pet food professionals from around the world to network, exchange ideas and do business with one another and with the industry's leading pet food manufacturers and suppliers. Petfood Forum 2018 will take place at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri, USA on April 23 -25, 2018.
