Can dog food made from insects save the planet?

Yora, a new dog food, which claims to be the world’s most sustainable because it’s made from insects, has recently been launched in the UK.

No small problem

Today, there are over 500 million pet cats and dogs in the world, so it’s no surprise that they consume around 20 per cent of the meat and fish produced, worldwide. Pet food is estimated to be responsible for one quarter of the environmental impact created by meat production. It is believed that the carbon footprint of a pet dog equates to double that of a 4×4 vehicle.

Flour power

Yora is a new British pet food brand, which claims to be the world’s most sustainable dog food. More than 40 per cent of its dry food contains a ‘flour’ made from Hermetia illucens larvae reared in a new, GBP 18 million facility in Holland. Other ingredients include British grown oats, potato, and a number of botanicals.

Get some grub

Farming insects uses only a small fraction of the resources required for other forms of protein such as chicken or beef. Yora says that compared to beef, its grubs need just 2 per cent of the land and 4 per cent of the water to produce each kilogram of protein, which means they generate 96% less greenhouse emissions. In addition, the grubs are only fed recycled vegetable matter that would otherwise go uneaten. They also naturally grow at a rapid pace, reaching full size in just 14 days, so there’s no need for growth hormones or antibiotics.

This story shows how Yora supports Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, specifically Target 12.2: “By 2030, achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.”

About Yora

Based in Brighton, Yora believes it has created the world’s most sustainable pet food, made from insect larvae. The company is named Yora in honour of one of the last uncontacted tribes in the Amazonian rainforest, who continue to live in harmony with nature.

Learn more about Yora.

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