Insects as alternative protein source in animal feed

The increasing global demand for sustainable and novel protein sources has drawn attention to the potential use of insects as animal feed. Hermetia illucens L. (black soldier fly) is among the most promising species due to its short reproductive cycle and rapid growth, efficient feed conversion, and ability to be reared on a wide variety of organic waste. In addition, its richness in high-quality nutrients and bioactive compounds aligns with the growing trend of functional feed components. Despite this, critical knowledge gaps persist on insect nutritional properties and functional benefits, and limited information on the quality of products from animals fed insect-enriched diets is available. Based on these premises, this thesis aimed at addressing these gaps by investigating key aspects regarding the use of insects as feed ingredients.