Cargill has signed a deal with French company InnovaFeed to buy insect oil to incorporate into hog rations.
It has already been buying the product for inclusion in its fish feeds.
The novel feed is gaining popularity because of the soaring prices for feed grains and ration ingredients.
InnovaFeed will produce the insect oil in its plant in Nesle in northern France, currently the world's largest, which will then be shipped to Cargill in the United States for inclusion in animal feed products, Innovafeed's spokeswoman said.
Insect oil is rich in lauric acid, a fatty acid that helps improve the intestinal health of animals, especially piglets, the companies said.
InnovaFeed and Archer Daniels Midland Co. have a deal to build the world's biggest insect protein plant at Decatur, Illinois. Construction is due to begin next year.
