Glossary
Find everything you need to know about novel proteins from A to Z
A
Algae Protein
Proteins derived from any type of algae. It is considered an alternative and sustainable source of protein and can be used as a feed ingredient.
Animal Feed
Any type of feed material used as an ingredient to feed livestock, paultry, pigs or other animals.
Antioxidants (AOX)
A substance that inhibits oxidation, especially one used to counteract the deterioration of stored food products.
B
Biofuel
Biofuels are fuels produced from biomass. They are mostly liquid and are used to power internal combustion engines in mobile and stationary applications.
Black Soldier Fly - BSF
Black Soldier Fly. The most common insect used in insect protein production for feed ingredients because of its resilience.
By-Product
A by-product or byproduct is a secondary product derived from a production process, manufacturing process or chemical reaction; it is not the primary product or service being produced. A by-product can be useful and marketable.
C
Chitin
A hard substance found in the outer shell of insects and animals such as shrimp and lobster, and in the cell walls of some fungi. Chitin shows great potential to be used in the bioplastic and pharmaceutical industries and has many fields of application.
Chitosan
Chitosan is a polysaccharide derived from Chitin, that has many use cases such as wastewater purification, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and many more.
D
Deforestation
The clearing of a large area of trees mostly to create arable land for plants such as soy or for cattle farming.
Digitalisation
The use of digital technologies to improve processes, change a business model or add value by creating new opportunities. It is the process of moving a traditional business into a digital business.
Digital Marketplace
A marketplace where buyers and suppliers can trade with each other online.
E
Entomology
A branch of zoology which deals with the scientific study of insects.
F
Feed Mill
In general, feed mills are responsible for the production of animal feeds, including those consumed by livestock and poultry.
Fish Feed
Fish feeds are an integral part of commercial and personal aquaculture and provide a balanced diet and nutrition for farmed fish.
Fish Meal
Ground dried fish with a high nutritional value used as an ingredient in animal feed or fish feed. Can be derived from the left-overs of fish production. A lot of the global fish meal however comes from overfishing and is therefore highly unsustainable and damaging to the oceanic ecosystems.
Food Security
The chance for everyone to have sufficient access to nutritious food.
G
Green Algae
Algae that contain chlorophyll and get starch in discrete chloroplasts. They are eukaryotic and most found in cold water, differing from unicellular flagellates to more complex multicellular forms.
H
Hermetia Illucens
Scientific name of the black soldier fly.
I
Incoterms
Standardized conditions for shipment and reception of goods. The Incoterms are intended primarily to clearly communicate the tasks, costs, and risks associated with the global or international transportation and delivery of goods.
Industrial Waste
An all-encompassing term used to describe material considered to be no longer of use after a manufacturing process has been completed. Insects for example are fed with industrial side streams because a constant quality of the material can be maintained.
Insect Pet Food
Insect pet food is defined as any type of pet food which includes insects within its ingredients that are digestible by pets.
Insect Proteins
Insect proteins are high-quality feedstock obtained from insects that can be used as an ingredient for feed for animals, pets, and fish. They are a new food and feed source, and an effort to move away from the traditional sources of proteins like meat and soy. Insect proteins are derived from edible insects and depending on what species are fed with it, different insects are recommended in their diets.
J
K
Kelp
Kelp algae are natural suppliers of organic iodine and a popular product in naturopathy. Iodine plays an important role in the body and is an essential trace element, which among other things supports the function of the thyroid gland and thus influences many important processes in the body.
L
Lipids
Lipids are defined as organic compounds that are fatty acids such as fat, oil or wax that dissolves in alcohol but not in water.
M
Macroalgae
Macroalgae, better known as seaweed, are marine algae that exist in many forms and types. They are widely used in food but show great potential to also be used as feedstock for animal feed.
Methane Emissions
Methane is an alkane and the main constituent of natural gas. It is damaging when it is emitted into the atmosphere in large quantities. Methane emissions result from livestock and other agricultural practices, as well as from the decomposition of organic waste in municipal landfills.
Microalgae
Microalgae are unicellular organisms, meaning they consist of a single cell. The most common examples of this type of algae are spirulina and chlorella, which are used as food additives or food colouring. There are however many other types of microalgae that show great potential to be used in animal or fish feed due to their high omega-3 content.
N
Novel Foods
A novel food is an item of food that has not previously been consumed in this manner or is produced using a new method.
Novel Ingredients
Novel ingredients are generally considered to be food ingredients that were not consumed before 1997 within the EU. The term is now mostly used to describe new food or feed ingredients that have the potential to replace traditional ingredients in the future. We use the term in combination with sustainable alternatives to traditional ingredients.
Novel Proteins
Novel proteins are proteins derived from sustainable sources such as insects, algae, single cell organisms and many more. The range of novel proteins is growing rapidly. They take less water, feed and land to produce and have a much lower carbon footprint than traditional protein sources such as soy, meat or fish.
O
Organic Waste
Waste of animal or plant origin generated by households or businesses, that can be degraded by microorganisms, soil-dwelling organisms, or enzymes.
Overfishing
Catching too many fish in an area of the sea so the number of fish cannot regrow fast enough to sustain the amount being fished.
P
Packaging
Describes the way in which the product is packed. Novel Protein meal is usually shipped in 1MT big bags, small bags or in rare cases in bulk.
Processed Animal Proteins (PAP)
Animal protein usually derived from animal by-products. It is obtained by cooking, stabilizing, defatting, sterilizing, grinding, and sieving.
Protein
Proteins are some of the many substances found in food such as meat, cheese, fish, some plants or eggs. Proteins are necessary for the body to grow and be strong. This is important for all humans and animals.
Q
Quantity Pricing
Quantity Pricing allows for price discounting on the basis of volume purchased. The more volume a customer buys, the less the price per unit usually is.
R
Rhodophyta
Rhodophyta, or red algae are a type of macroalgae found deep within the oceans. They produce phycoerythrin, a pigment that absorbs blue light and reflects red light. This is what helps them to photosynthesize and survive deeper in the ocean. Rhodophyta is used in Asian cuisine, such as nori, for human consumption. Each serving contains a high amount of protein and vitamins, and humans have been eating this seaweed for hundreds of years.
S
Sample
A small amount of a production batch presented for inspection or shown as evidence of quality​. Samples are mostly used for lab analyses to define the nutritional profile of the production batch and for quality control.
Single Cell Protein (SCP)
Single cell proteins (SCP) are unicellular micro-organisms which can be produced through the process of autotrophic growth. Meaning there is no need for the involvement of agricultural or farming practices in the production of SCP.
Sustainable Food System
A type of food system that produces food in a sustainable way. This means the food is produced in a way that does not take more resources than the amount that can be regrown.
Sustainability
Sustainability is the use of natural resources in a healthy way that does not harm the planet. It means only using resources when they can be regrown so future generations will still have access to the resources we have today.
T
Tolerance
Quantity difference between ordered quantity and received quantity. The tolerance is usually defined in the sales contract to prevent surprises.
U
UN Global Compact
Global Compact or United Nations Global Compact is the English name for a worldwide pact concluded between companies and the UN to make globalisation more social and ecological. There is a risk of confusion with the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and the Global Compact on Refugees.
V
Value-Added Products
Value-added products are defined by USDA as having “a change in the physical state or form of the product (such as milling wheat into flour or making strawberries into jam). The production of a product in a manner that enhances its value (such as organically produced products).
W
White label
White label refers to a prouct that is produced by a company but sold through multiple retailers under different brand names.
X
Y
Yellow Biotechnology
Insect biotechnology, also called yellow biotechnology, offers numerous possible applications because of the immense diversity of insects. Now biotechnology comes into play. Instead of using living animals, the superpeptides that occur in salivary secretions are used and incorporated into hydrogels. Yellow biotechnology opens up completely new perspectives for galenics.
Z
Zero Waste
Zero Waste is a set of principles focused on waste prevention that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused. The goal is for no trash to be sent to landfills, incinerators or the ocean.
