There is a growing global demand for animal products for human nutrition, despite vegan and vegetarian diets becoming more popular in Western countries. Changing diets necessitate a substantial amount of protein as an input for animal production. A research team at the University of Göttingen, Germany, has investigated whether alternative protein sources alter typical meat quality.

Their results – published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture (JSFA) – of laboratory testing and sensory (taste-testing) analyses across 132 birds show that black soldier fly larvae meal and spirulina can be included in poultry feed without negatively impacting quality.

Future protein feedstuffs will need to become independent of arable land in order to avoid further land use changes, such as deforestation. The cultivation of insects as well as microalgae are up-and-coming sectors in Germany, as well as globally, to meet protein demands for humans and animals alike. 

In a study conducted as a part of the project “Sustainability Transitions in the Food Production,” broiler chickens were fattened using feed with the main protein sources being soybean meal, spirulina, or insects. Animal growth, meat quality (especially concerning shelf life), and eating quality were investigated. 

The researchers also found that chickens fed with black soldier fly larvae meal produce meat equivalent to the status quo. Chickens fed with spirulina produce meat with a more intensive color and flavor. 

“Overall, both prove to be potential soybean meal alternatives in the search for new protein sources for animal feed,” explains the study lead researcher Dr. Brianne Altmann.

Microalgae are currently produced globally for biofuel, animal feed and human consumption. However, they remain much more expensive than soybean meal. Currently in the EU, insects are only authorized for human consumption and for fish feed; they are likely to be approved for poultry feed in the near future. In the EU, all insects must be produced using certified animal feedstuffs. 

However, “sustainability necessitates the incorporation of waste products in the production of insects,” flags Professor Daniel Mörlein, professor for the Quality of Animal Products.

Three groups at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Göttingen, are currently examining the foundations for more sustainable and socially-accepted plant and animal-based foods. Product perception as well as consumer acceptance studies are commonly conducted in the faculty’s modern sensory laboratory.