Towards a Circular Aquaculture: Assessing Sustainability and Consumer Acceptance of Insect-Based Feed for Trout Farming

Addressing the urgent need for sustainable aquaculture amidst escalating protein demand and environmental burdens from conventional practices, the newRIFF project investigates a novel circular economy solution: the valorization of agricultural organic waste into alternative protein sources for trout feed. This research critically evaluates the technical, economic, environmental (via LCA), and social (via S-LCA) sustainability of replacing traditional fishmeal and oil with insect meal derived from Hermetia illucens and Tenebrio Molitor reared on locally available by-products. Beyond the comprehensive multi-disciplinary assessment of production performance and product safety, a distinctive focus of newRIFF lies in analyzing consumer perception and acceptance. Through willingness-to-pay (WTP) studies, we explore the influence of innovative packaging, clear labelling, nutritional claims, and environmental impact information on consumer purchasing decisions. This holistic approach generates crucial insights into the market potential and policy implications for insect-based feeds, offering a scalable pathway to enhance resource efficiency, mitigate environmental degradation, and foster a more resilient and circular global food system, directly aligning with themes on innovative environmental solutions.