© Pep4Fish Project
As the aquafeeds industry undergoes a continued push towards alternative ingredients, such as insects, fears about product authenticity have begun to be voiced.
Seeking to address this novel challenge, a team of researchers from Portugal's Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR) have developed a real-time PCR protocol which can identify the presence of two of the main insect species used for aquafeeds: the mealworm and the black soldier fly.
The new method stands out for its sensitivity, as it can detect extremely low levels of DNA from these species, even in complex processed products such as aquaculture feeds or protein hydrolysates. The test can identify inclusions of just 0.24 percent of these species in analysed products, ensuring authenticity even in processed formulations.
In addition to ensuring transparency and quality, this new method represents an important step toward sustainability, as it certifies ingredients sourced from authorised origins, aligning with the principles of the circular economy and the blue bioeconomy model.
According to the researchers, this authentication protocol not only protects consumers and producers but also strengthens trust in the value chain of innovative insect-based foods, contributing to a more sustainable and secure aquaculture industry.
The study was conducted as part of the Pep4Fish project, which seeks to find novel solutions for aquaculture nutrition, and has been published in the prestigious Journal of Food Composition and Analysis.
