Summary
This review synthesises evidence on the integration of alternative protein sources—including plant-based, agro-industrial by-products, insect meal, algae, legumes, and single-cell proteins—into animal feed systems as a strategy to enhance the ecological and economic sustainability of livestock production chains. The authors examine how such substitutions affect feed efficiency, environmental burdens, product quality, and circular economy principles across diverse production contexts and species. The paper positions alternative protein sourcing as a practical ecological driver for improving the overall sustainability profile of animal agriculture.
UK applicability
The findings are relevant to UK livestock and aquaculture producers and policymakers seeking to reduce environmental impacts of feed production. The review is particularly applicable given UK reliance on imported protein sources, evolving post-Brexit regulatory frameworks around novel feed ingredients (including insect-derived proteins), and policy drivers toward net-zero agriculture and circular food systems. Applicability depends on the availability, cost-competitiveness, and regulatory acceptance of specific alternative proteins within UK supply chains.
Key measures
Feed conversion efficiency; feed ingredient sustainability indicators; protein source nutritional profiles; environmental impact indicators (greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water use); livestock productivity metrics; product nutritional quality; animal performance parameters
Outcomes reported
The review examines the ecological, nutritional, and economic potential of alternative protein sources—including insects, legumes, algae, single-cell proteins, and agro-industrial by-products—as replacements for conventional feed ingredients in animal production and aquaculture systems. It assesses their role in improving the environmental sustainability, feed efficiency, and circular economy alignment of animal feeding systems across multiple species.
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