Earlier in the week, DN wrote that there is a chicken - and äggbönder who choose organic because they don't want to use fishmeal in the feed.
in particular, they turn towards that fiskmjölet is not possible to track and it can contribute to overfishing and depletion of the oceans.
Fiskmjölet also leads to higher levels of dioxins and PCBS in organic eggs. It can also give problems with the taste.
The main reason why fish meal is used is that there is no natural proteinråvara that can replace fiskmjölet in organic production.
come into the picture. It is beautifully situated between the Chest and the Upplands-Väsby and is a testing ground for the future of food and agriculture.
This has developed a very own kycklingras being fed with what it hopes will be the future of feed stock, namely insects.
– the basic Principle is that our food should not eat our food. It is not ecologically sustainable in the long run, " says Anders Kiessling, who is a professor and specialized in eco-friendly animal feed at SLU.
where Torsåkers own wildfowl struttar around, with a stunning view towards the lake Fysingen.
Anders Kiessling is a professor and specialized in eco-friendly animal feed at SLU. Photo: Alexander MahmoudHere, they can draw a mask directly from the earth. If they go into the shack to lay eggs so they can feast on insects and worms from a trough that has been set.
the Hope is that insects will soon be able to replace fish meal and other proteins used in the day, for example, from soy.
the Insects do not take agricultural land as soybean. They do not need to be transported over half the globe. And they do not contribute to the depletion of the oceans.
instead, they create one of nature's own cycle by reclaiming the waste in our food production, " says Anders Kiessling.
Insects that feed. Photo: Alexander MahmoudInsects eat human food waste and then themselves become the high-grade feed to the hens.
– It is the same thing as when leaves fall to the ground in the autumn. The insects break them down so that the tree can form new leaves.
has already begun to be manufactured insektsmjöl. But it is only used in fish feed. So long as it is not allowed to produce insektsfoder to poultry, according to the Swedish legislation.
– the way it should be. We need to be sure that there are no risks, " says Anders.
It is not commercially viable because it is produced in small scale.
What the consumer will say is difficult to know at the moment. But Anders Kiessling says that Torsåkers own chicken was served at a dinner a week ago, with specially invited guests.
"You could say that it has a fatter and juicier flavour than a regular chicken, it is reminiscent of the taste of a duck," he says.
On the question if there is any snag to feed the hens with the insects he answers with a counter question:
" What's the catch with the to return to a system that nature has developed over millions of years?
the Hens have always eaten insects, and it is only with industrial agriculture that they have been plucked away from their natural behaviour and are fed with synthetic protein sources, soy and fish meal, he says,
– some might not think that it is competitive. But really, it is the only long-term. We can not continue with the current feeding system.
both matkyckling and laying hen needs in one. An average american chicken goes to slaughter when it is 30-70 days old. The do not have time to become sexually mature and lay no eggs.
Laying hen, Torsåker farm. Photo: Alexander MahmoudThe birds we meet in the courtyard is a year and a half old. The hens both lay eggs and will eventually end up in the oven, unclear when.
The need to develop a new robust race in the Swedish poultry production, says Anders Kiessling. That can be matkyckling and laying hen needs at the same time.
" So we are going away from the current procedure where you have to destroy the hens that have stopped to lay eggs.
Read more: Kycklingbönder choose organic because of the fishmeal in the feed