Sustainable Protein Transitions: A Comprehensive Review of Insect Meal in Broiler Diets—Nutritional Value, Immunomodulatory Effects, Gut Health Interactions, and Future Perspectives

Effects of dietary γ-aminobutyric acid supplementation on growth, feed intake, and intestinal health of the juvenile Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) fed with high plant protein diets

Insects as future food - nutrient requirements and manipulation of whole-body composition in Tenebrio molitor larvae.

Nutritional Balancing Strategies in Low-Fishmeal Aquafeeds: A PRISMA 2020-Based Systematic Review Beyond Lysine and Methionine Supplementation

Simple Summary Fishmeal remains a key functional ingredient in aquafeeds, yet its limited availability and price volatility have accelerated the transition toward low-fishmeal formulations. However, effective fishmeal reduction requires more than protein replacement, as fishmeal provides essential nutritional and functional components that support growth, nutrient utilization, intestinal integrity, immunity, and stress resistance. This review highlights nutritional strategies that enhance the performance of low-fishmeal diets, including taurine, phosphorus-mobilizing enzymes, protein hydrolysates, fermented ingredients, yeast-derived products, probiotics, minerals, vitamins, and gut health-promoting additives. Within the species, life stages, diet matrices, and experimental conditions represented in the available evidence, future low-fishmeal feeds should be developed through context-specific formulations and validation aimed at restoring the relevant biological functions of fishmeal-based diets rather than through universal ingredient or additive recommendations.

Agricultural By-Products and Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal as Alternatives to Soybean Meal in Commercial Broiler Diets: Effects on Meat Quality, Fecal Microbiota, and Environmental Impact.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of partially replacing soybean meal with agricultural by-products with or without supplementation of dried black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) meal on meat quality, intestinal microbiota of commercial broiler chickens, and environmental sustainability. A total of 252 day-old Cobb 500 chicks were divided into three dietary treatments, including a corn-soybean-based Control diet and two alternative diets. Alternative diets were a diet in which soybean meal was replaced partly (SPR) by sunflower meal, brewers dried grain, and wheat middlings, and a diet in which BSFL meal was added (5%) to the SPR diet. At 39 days of age, the feces of chickens from each dietary treatment were sampled for fecal microbiota analysis. Birds were slaughtered at day 40 to assess breast meat quality. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to estimate the environmental impacts of each diet. The SPR and SPR+BSFL diets significantly (p = 0.003) reduced breast meat pH24 without affecting lightness and yellowness values. While cooking losses were similar in the breast meat of chickens fed the Control and SPR diets, adding BSFL meal to the SPR diet reduced cooking losses (p < 0.001). The SPR+BSFL diet increased total saturated fatty acids (SFA), while the SPR diet elevated polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content, particularly linoleic acid (p < 0.001). Microbiota analysis revealed a higher abundance of Firmicutes, particularly Lactobacillus and Bacillus, in broilers fed the SPR+BSFL diet, while Clostridiaceae was more prevalent in the SPR group compared to the Control (p < 0.01). These changes in microbiota were likely attributed to the increased fiber content of the diets. Environmental impact analysis showed that both SPR and SPR+BSFL diets reduced global warming potential, damage to ecosystems, human health burden, and resource use compared to the Control diet (p < 0.001). The two alternative diets performed similarly in most environmental indicators. The results suggested that agricultural by-products with or without BSFL meal supplementation could be used to partially replace soybean meal in the diets of commercial broiler chickens and would beneficially modulate gut microbiota and reduce the environmental footprint of broiler production.

Dietary Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal Improves Growth Performance and Meat Quality Associated with Enhanced Antioxidant Capacity and Intestinal Health in Wenchang Chickens

Simple Summary Wenchang chicken farmers face high feed costs and heavy dependence on soybean meal. Insect meal derived from black soldier fly larvae is a promising alternative protein, but its effects on this breed are unknown. We fed 192 female Wenchang chickens diets with 0%, 5%, 10%, or 15% insect meal for 42 days. The 15% insect meal diet increased final body weight, improved feed efficiency, and lowered the feed cost per kilogram of weight gain. Meat quality improved: it was redder, more tender, and retained more moisture. Gut health improved, with the results showing a better intestinal structure, healthier gut bacteria, a greater ability to fight cell damage, and reduced gut damage signs. Overall, replacing conventional feed with 15% insect meal has beneficial effects on the growth, meat quality, and gut health of Wenchang chickens. This study supports the use of insect protein to lower costs, reduce soybean reliance, and promote sustainable chicken production.

Engineering Nutritional Profiles in Edible Insects Through Diet–Microbiome Interactions: Mechanisms, Applications and Future Directions

Combining improved feeding strategies, knowledge of gut microorganisms, biological analysis, and automated production could help produce insects with more predictable nutritional properties and support sustainable food and feed production, reduce organic waste, and strengthen circular and resource-efficient agricultural systems.