Page 16 - Australian Pork Newspaper

Australia explores rules for insect meal
Insects for feed
THE Insect Protein Association of Aus- tralia provides sup- port, referral and ad- vocacy for individuals and companies who are engaged or inter- ested in working with insects as a product, or farming insects for sale as a protein for livestock feed.
there are 45 individ- uals or companies who are actively pursuing farming fly larvae for livestock feed in Aus- tralia.
stock in each state.
The insect for feed steering committee is a sub-committee within the IPAA.
The IPAA recom- mends that all insect for livestock feed farmers consider both the waste management and han- dling regulations rela- tive to their state or ter- ritory, in addition to the relevant livestock feed regulations relating to restricted animal mate- rial and other labelling standards and regula- tions.
The IPAA encour- ages all members to establish connection with relevant governing bodies on these issues in addition to con- sulting with the Stock Feed Manufacturers Council of Australia. Steering committee
It is currently inves- tigating relevant issues and policy needs of the sector, and continues to provide insight and support to members in this area.
The IPAA will con- tinue to work on building best practice and a portfolio of re- ferral for members who are stakeholders in the insects for livestock feed industry, and will update member infor- mation accordingly.
The insect for feed industry in Australia comprises of five fly farms scaling to com- mercial capacity and a variety of smaller op- erations either devel- oping their processes or commencing their research and develop- ment.
It is important to note that insects are consid- ered animals as per the Livestock Feed Act of Australia – guidance relative to what can be fed to insects in each state can therefore be determined, based on the relevant informa- tion for feeding live-
For more informa- tion, visit insectpro teinassoc.com
In total, currently
The committee has the determined the fol- lowing:
Substrate
All insects destined to commercial live- stock feed or pet food must meet the regula- tion requirements for these products as out- lined by feed regula- tion, labelling and pro- cessing laws outlined by each state.
Livestock feed
DESPITE the hype around insect ability to upcycle human food waste into animal feed, actually feeding insects raised on trash is prohibited.
the safe recycling of several of the world’s most dif- ficult waste streams – food waste, animal effluent and human biosolids.
“Insects offer a unique opportunity because they can be reared on a variety of substrates — including waste streams inedible to other species,” Ms Yarger said.
“We have to do it now, while the industry is still young, so we can accel- erate and scale using waste streams that are not cur- rently dedicated to live- stock production.”
A group of insect meal researchers in Australia aims to change that.
Stock Feed Manufac- turers’ Council of Australia executive officer Duncan Rowland advised livestock producers in Australia can feed insect meal to fish and poultry in several jurisdic- tions, but not to pigs or ruminants.
“But limiting commer- cial substrates to plant- based wastes means ex- isting insect operations are competing with livestock producers for agricultural waste streams such as grain detritus, which relegates in- sects to the role of unnec- essary ‘middleman’ in the agricultural supply chain.
To determine the safety of using substrates such as post-consumer waste or biosolids, researchers will test each substrate for po- tential contaminants and then evaluate whether in- sects raised on that sub- strate still contain those contaminants after being processed into meal.
Academics, government and industry partners participating in a newly launched cooperative re- search centre will spend the next two years studying how Australia’s existing FeedSafe quality assurance program could be applied to insect meal.
Even in species permitted to consume insect meal, the type of substrate permitted is limited to plant-based materials.
“Completing the re- search necessary to open up unique substrate op- tions would allow insects to take their rightful place in the supply chain, recy- cling previously useless waste streams and creating a new source of protein for animal producers.
As an example, house- hold waste streams could contain rat poisons, bleach and cleaning agents, pathogens or even heavy metals.
The project will involve a series of tests designed to evaluate safety considera- tions for the entire insect meal supply chain, begin- ning with the substrate on which the insects are raised, in hope of finding criteria that would permit
Insect Protein Associa- tion of Australia chair and Goterra waste management startup chief executive of- ficer Olympia Yarger be- lieves restrictions have prevented insect produc- tion from realising its true potential.
Will the resulting meal pose a threat to livestock?
Research project looks to adapt existing feed safety standards in Australia to insect meal.
“We have to stop pre- tending that insects are a one-trick pony, and we have to be far more im- aginative in how we solve these problems.”
Category C disaster assistance available
Dr Georgina Davis
“The feeling around these kinds of substrates is they are bad, and they should not be used in our supply chain,” Ms Yarger said.
“That’s not based in sci- ence.
“We need to determine if that is true or not.
“Even if those contami- nants do transfer from the substrate to the insect meal, there may still be poten- tial uses for these contami- nated insects in bioplastics or biofuels.
“Our job in this research is to qualify the under- standing of what ‘sub- strates’ mean in the supply chain, and then from there it will be Goterra’s mission to determine what we can do with that insect.
QUALITY + PEOPLE + INTEGRITY
LIVESTOCK PROCUREMENT MANAGER
• Join one of Australia’s largest producers of pork & premium pork products • Make your mark on a newly developed senior role
• Access an attractive salary package (plus vehicle & incentive scheme)
About Rivalea
We are one of Australia's leading integrated Agri-food companies, employing more than 1,100 people across the business in roles ranging from farming and meat processing, to sales and scientific research. With sites in regionaland metropolitanlocations,weprovidepremium pork products to local, national and export markets.
About the Role
An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced Livestock Buyer to join our team. Based in Albury, this position will be responsible for driving the Company’s livestock procurement strategy through the purchase and acquisition of external livestock (pigs).
Key Responsibilities
• Build strong & productive relationships with pork producers and key industry influencers
• Implement & support the strategic purchase of external livestock
• Align the Company’s livestock procurement strategy with business objectives
• Meet/exceed targets for purchasing, pricing & timing
• Support the corporate strategic plan and the sales and marketing team objectives.
Skills & Experience
• High level business acumen
• Previous experience in agri-sales or livestock
purchasing (preferred)
• A nity with the Agricultural Industry
• High level communication & negotiation skills
• Willingness&abilitytoundertakeregulartravel
• Current driver’s licence.
Our recruitment process includes referee checks, a medical and national police check.
Our Privacy Statement can be viewed at www.rivalea.com.au
Please lodge your cover letter and current resume on Seek.com (search Rivalea).
THE Queensland Farmers’ Federation has welcomed the activation of Category C assistance for farmers beginning the recovery process fol- lowing damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Niran.
Farmers in the Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Hin- chinbrook, Mareeba and Tablelands local areas may be eligible for grants of up to $25,000, jointly funded by the Federal and State governments’ Dis- aster Recovery Funding arrangements.
QFF chief executive officer Dr Georgina Davis acknowledged the Queensland and Aus- tralian governments for their timely response, as farmers commence the process of assessing the impact of the destructive weather event.
those who have experi- enced loss or disruption as a result of a disaster like Tropical Cyclone Niran, and who need a helping hand as they recover.”
“As more information comes to hand, QFF will continue working closely with government to en- sure the appropriate levels of support are available to farmers,” Dr Davis said.
“In the meantime, we encourage impacted farmers to contact their relevant industry body or the Queensland Depart- ment of Agriculture and Fisheries to complete an impact assessment.”
“QFF is in the process of creating an industry support network of people with knowledge of farm practices and business processes – to take on a supporter role to galvanise
The Category C re- covery grants are avail- able from QRIDA.
FF
Page 16 – Australian Pork Newspaper, April 2021
For more information, visit qrida.qld.gov.au or call 1800 623 946.
www.porknews.com.au