Interest in insect production as a feed source has been expanding. December saw AgriProtein seek to acquire the Belgian insect company Millibeter regarding its work with the black soldier fly.
In the US, the North American Coalition for Insect Agriculture (NACIA) formed to support collaboration among industry stakeholders and provide support for research work on insects in feed and food.
Additionally, French insect producer, InnovaFeed, saw investments of more than €55 last year. The company works with protein ingredients derived from the black soldier fly.
Some researchers looking for alternative proteins have been thinking small. The Massachusetts-based technology company, KnipBio, turned to single cells to generate its protein feed ingredient.
Similarly, White Dog Labs is working on its first commercial-scale production facility for another single-cell protein feed ingredient. The group moved west from its headquarters to find enough corn to support its effort.
In addition to work exploring the development of new and novel protein sources, research is underway to make existing protein sources more sustainable.
This process includes efforts in Europe to produce protein crops locally and the use of research methods that could be used to improve yields or the quality of oilseeds.
In Denmark, a market that relies heavily on imports of feed protein ingredients, there is a drive on to try and derive protein from potential sources, like grass and fava beans.
India needs to consider how to meet its feed protein needs as poultry production expands. A report from Rabobank highlighted challenges for the country in that respect.
Innovative new ways of developing protein sources include the use of methane gas to generate such vital ingredients.
Feed protein producer, Calysta, continues to develop its methane gas sourced feed protein product, FeedKind, with an eye on the aquaculture market.
The company has been generating the protein since 2016 at pilot scale but is partnering with Cargill on a commercial scale facility in Tennessee.
Similarly, Unibio is looking to use its natural gas-derived protein product as a feed ingredient for multiple species including chickens, pigs, calves and fish species. The company's protein product is currently being tested by players in the Southeast Asian market.
In addition to providing an alternative protein source, some novel ingredients are being explored for their potential value added benefits.
The authors of a research study carried out by Calysta claimed the use of its novel protein in shrimp diets could aid shrimp survival, through supporting fish gut health.
Oilseeds like soybeans may be a common source of plant-based protein for use in animal feeds, but there are also some novel oilseeds emerging.
Carinata was initially of interest for producing oil for fuel, but is increasingly being explored as an alternative protein in animal feed.
Taking work with the oilseed further, an international research team found interest in using pelleted carinata seeds to add protein to dairy cow rations.
Terrestrial plants are not the only sources of plant-based proteins of interest to the feed industry. Researchers in the UK are exploring the use of algal biomass to generate the feed ingredient.
Seaweeds also may be an option as a protein feed ingredient for cattle, according to researchers in Denmark and Norway.
