Protix’s insect ingredients proven to slash emissions, land and water use

NETHERLANDS – A newly published peer review in ScienceDirect has confirmed that Protix’s insect-based ingredients significantly reduce environmental impact compared to conventional animal and plant protein sources, reinforcing the company’s leadership in sustainable feed and pet food production.

Conducted by scientists from the German Institute of Food Technologies and the Institute of Food Quality and Food Safety, the review validated Protix’s Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data, using primary data from its full-scale commercial operations in the Netherlands. 

The findings show that insect proteins derived from the black soldier fly (BSF) can dramatically reduce carbon, land, and water use, providing a scalable alternative to traditional feed ingredients.

“We welcome these peer-reviewed results as independent confirmation of the capacity of our insect ingredients to reduce the environmental impact significantly,” said Piotr Postepski, chief commercial officer of Protix. 

“There is still a lot of potential to lower the footprint of the black soldier fly ever further, for example, with government approval for the use of lower-grade feedstock. This is something we continue to work tirelessly on.”

Clear environmental gains

According to the peer review, ProteinX®, Protix’s premium insect meal, reduces CO₂ emissions by 78% compared to poultry meal and up to 89% compared to soy protein concentrate, which is widely used in aquaculture feeds. 

Similarly, LipidX®, the company’s insect fat, achieves near-zero land use and uses 100% less land than coconut oil. PureeX®, its fresh insect meat, was found to use 99.8% less water than poultry meat commonly used in pet food formulations.

These results either match or surpass those in Protix’s 2024 LCA report, thanks to updates in external data sources for feedstock and energy mix. 

Additional research has shown that ProteinX can cut carbon emissions by 20.4% compared to fishmeal and 52.6% compared to soy meal, further solidifying its environmental advantages.

Health benefits for pets

Beyond sustainability, Protix’s insect ingredients are also showing promise in animal health. A recent study by the Federal University of Paraíba in Brazil found that ProteinX improved skin barrier function and boosted antioxidant defenses in dogs. 

In a 50-day trial with eight healthy beagles, those fed a ProteinX-based diet exhibited reduced water loss through the skin and higher hydration levels, suggesting enhanced skin health.

Blood analyses also indicated improved oxidative stress markers, with lower malondialdehyde levels and higher vitamin E concentrations after 50 days of feeding, pointing to better antioxidant protection. The dogs also accepted the insect-based diet readily, showing no adverse reactions.

Growing market momentum

The validation comes as Europe’s insect protein industry accelerates, driven by sustainability goals, regulatory support, and consumer demand for greener alternatives. 

Companies such as Protix, Ÿnsect, Entomo Farms, and AgriProtein are spearheading large-scale insect farming and bioconversion technologies, especially using black soldier flies.

From aquaculture farms in the Netherlands to poultry producers in France and pet food processors in Germany, insect-based ingredients are quickly gaining traction as viable, eco-efficient proteins. 

Supported by EU sustainability programs and a shift toward circular economy models, Europe is positioning itself as the global hub for the insect protein revolution.

Protix’s validated data underscores the broader potential of insect farming to help transform food and feed production into a truly sustainable system.

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