BioConvert: converting fly larvae into protein-rich animal food
About this good practice
In developed countries around one third of all produced food is thrown away. In the EU this amount corresponds to 90 mil. tonnes of food waste each year, while in Slovakia this represents around 950,000 tonnes. The possibilities of large-scale food waste processing are currently limited to industrial composting, biogas production and possible direct combustion in the incinerator. On the other side there is a constant demand of farmers for high quality protein-rich animal food to enhance animal productivity while keeping the costs intact or even lower. Currently almost 70 % of high-protein animal feeds is imported to the EU. This good practice explores an innovative biotechnological method of direct food waste bioconversion into protein-rich animal food. The method uses the biological activity of black soldier fly larvae for direct conversion of food residues into larval biomass, which might serve as a sustainable alternative/addition to currently used plant-based or animal-based food sources. Insect farming as a sustainable source of alternative proteins is in line with the EU's environmental objectives (The European Green Deal, New European Bauhaus) and with the transition of the agri-food sector towards a zero waste circular economy.
BioConvert, Ltd. (good practice operator) is an independent private company which acts in this area and aims to develop marketable products based on insect proteins produced in a fully sustainable way.
Resources needed
Development of a pilot facility with the monthly production capacity of 10 tonnes of insect meal requires around 150,000 EUR of capital costs and around 234,000 EUR of variable costs (rent, energy, full-time employees, marketing, packaging, etc.). The funding has come mainly from private sources.
Evidence of success
The EIT Jumpstarter, the pre-acceleration programme backed by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, has named the seven highest-promising start-ups in 2021. BioConvert start-up is the winner of this competition in the category New European Bauhaus. Further development of the start-up is in progress. At the time of winning the EIT Jumpstarter competition, BioConvert was in the conceptual stage. In the meantime, it has become a true start-up (legal entity).
Potential for learning or transfer
Local/regional aspects are very important when considering truly circular systems in agri-food sector. Food waste is produced continuously in every EU region and its local transformation into added-value products is essential to produce affordable protein-rich animal food for farmers. This has a potential to decrease the dependence of EU farming on imported animal feeds based on soybean which are produced in a non-sustainable way.
Further information
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.