Alternative Proteins Magazine ISSUE FOCUS October 2025 41 tions not only add economic value but also shift emissions away from the primary product, further improving the sustainability profile of BSF farming. WATER USE: LESS IS MORE Water consumption is another area where BSF farming shines. The study tracked blue (surface/ groundwater), green (rainwater), and grey (polluted) water usage. Two farms consumed around 10,000 liters of blue water per batch, while the farm using potato pulp, relied heavily on green water which is considered more sustainable. Compared to traditional livestock, BSF larvae require approximately 2,700 m³ per ton which is significantly less water than required for other livestock. This is roughly 1.5-5 times higher than the water consumption required for producing a ton of fresh soybeans or industrial fish for fishmeal; however, the water used for BSF farming can predominantly (70-90%) be provided as green water. HEATING SMARTER Heating is the second-largest source of emissions in BSF farming. Farms using fossil fuels like LNG recorded higher emissions, while those using biomass or wood chips fared better. For instance, one of the farms could reduce its heating emissions by 43% through the installation of a heat recovery system saving 187 MWh of energy annually. A BLUEPRINT FOR THE FUTURE As the insect farming sector continues to grow, data-driven insights like these will be crucial for guiding policy, investment, and innovation. A recent life cycle assessment study commissioned by Department for Environmental Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in the UK, raised concerns that insect protein meal could be up to 13.5 times worse for the climate than soy and up to 4.2 times worse than fishmeal (reference: Life Cycle Assessment of UK Insect Protein Production Processes for Pig and Poultry Feed - SCF0235). Our farm-level assessment presents a more grounded and optimistic view. The UK report relied heavily on cradle-to-gate modeling and included scenarios using high-impact feedstocks like traditional feed, which may not reflect best practices in commercial insect farming. In contrast, this study draws on real-world production data from three operational BSF farms in Germany, each employing practical sustainability strategies such as biomass heating, frass valorization, and organic waste feed integration. These farms demonPhoto: Better Insect Solutions
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