Transporting insects and worms: growing market for sustainable solutions

Benefits of insect feeding

The increasing demand for farmed fish has led to an increase in the prices of fish meal and fish oil, making insect feed a viable and cost-effective alternative. Extensive research over the past 20 years has demonstrated the effectiveness of insect meal as an alternative to fish meal. Insects offer a high-energy, high-protein feed option that improves animal health by strengthening animals’ immune systems and reducing antibiotic use. In addition, insect feed can be easily mixed with other feed components, such as ground grains and soy, to create a nutritious mixture that is pressed into pellets for convenient feeding.

Worms as fishing bait

In Europe, the Netherlands is a major exporter of live sea worms used as bait for fishing. These worms are transported in refrigerated conditions to keep them healthy and alive. They are usually transported in EPS boxes combined with gel packs for effective insulation or in Styrofoam containers with ice packs to maintain optimal temperatures and prevent spoilage.

Market growth forecasts

The insect feed market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by increasing demand for sustainable sources of animal protein. Factors such as climate change, environmental concerns and the need for alternative protein sources are driving this growth. Despite the potential, there are also challenges, such as high start-up costs and production constraints at scale. However, ongoing research and development efforts to create innovative solutions, along with strategic partnerships, are expected to improve production capabilities and increase market penetration and overcome the challenges.

Coolpack’s role in the industry

The solutions Coolpack offers in this particular industry include gel packs, which can be combined with EPS boxes for optimal insulation. Gel packs are available in various shapes and sizes, and Coolpack’s on-site production facility enables the development of customized solutions tailored to specific applications. Coolpack’s cooling solutions are of excellent quality and ensure that transported insects and worms remain healthy and alive. We offer a wide range of packaging solutions in different shapes and sizes to meet the diverse needs of our customers. For applications ranging from agricultural products to fish bait, Coolpack offers reliable and efficient cooling solutions for safe transportation.