At Beta Bugs we are
Through developing and distributing Black Soldier Fly breeds
Providing the missing link in the insect protein supply chain.
Genetics
Sticking to what we do best
Since Day One, Genetics has been our sole focus. We have built our Company’s strategy, technology and team around developing and distributing Black Soldier Fly breeds.
We leave large-scale production to Black Soldier Fly protein producers, our customers, who improve their bottom lines through our product. In doing so, we avoid unnecessary competition, and instead jointly focus our energies on scaling our industry.
Our view on our industry
We are firm believers in a horizontal supply chain, coupled with sector specialization. Specialization means focus, which means more progress.
Our industry is now segmenting horizontally. New market entrants have the opportunity to buy increasing amounts of “off-the-shelf” systems to establish an insect farm. Genetics forms part of this supply chain, supplying the biological software that runs in farming hardware.
Through this combination, insect farming will become part of the solution in addressing our growing climate crisis. We would be arrogant to say that insect protein can meet the total protein requirements of the entire agri-food industry, but we believe it can play a significant role.
A Brief History
Beta Bugs was founded in 2017 by Thomas Farrugia, with early-stage investment from Deep Science Ventures in London. Securing early-stage grant funding, the company relocated operations to the Easter Bush Campus, a world-leading agri-food research, work and study environment, just outside of Edinburgh, in 2019.
In 2020, during the CoVID-19 lockdowns, we benefited from EIC Accelerator, Scottish Government and InnovateUK Transforming Food Production funding, turning a time of uncertainty and challenge into one of opportunity and growth.
As of 2022, we are a dedicated, talented and hard-working team of 12 working at the next frontier in animal breeding, with the ambition and drive to build a commercially successful world-leader in our sector.
The People Behind Our Success
Thomas Farrugia
Suzy Purcell
Mark Richardson
Nicola Gardner
Lindy Stewart
Dr Maria Martinez Castillero
Sam Grainger
Dr Isobel Swinscoe
Conor Mullins
Victoria Allen
Jack McWhinnie
Jonathan Fisher
Kaylene Jensen
Philip J Wilkinson OBE
Dr Graeme Dear
