BÜHLER
Bühler widens its global network of application centers for insect technology by launching the North American Insect Centre together with its partner NRGene Canada
The equation of how much larval biomass and frass an insect plant outputs for a specific mixture and quantity of feedstock input (the so-called “mass balance”) is crucial in assessing the plant’s productivity. Although there are ways to approximate such a mass balance by looking at the nutritional composition of the feed mixture and applying the experience from past projects, there is a growing interest in validating such mass balances in controlled rearing trials. With the newly opened North American Insect Center (NAIC), Bühler and its partner NRGene expand the possibility to run such representative rearing trials also to interested companies in North America.
On July 30th , the NAIC was officially inaugurated and is located at NRGene’s facility in Saskatoon, Canada. With this latest addition to its network of application centers for the insect industry, Bühler can offer its customers rearing trials in three different locations around the world. The first such center was opened back in 2021 with the Insect Technology Center (ITC) in Uzwil, Switzerland, right next to Bühler’s global headquarters, shortly followed by the launch of the Joint Lab based in Shanghai, China, that is operated by the local partner CAS in collaboration with Bühler China. While all of these centers are equipped with one of Bühler’s advanced Trial Rearing Unit (TRU), a larvae growth chamber that can mimic industrial production conditions, each center is specialized in a different aspect of the rearing process.
The NAIC in Saskatoon, Canada – Leveraging genetics and technology for optimized rearing
The NAIC is designed as a research and demonstration center, where customers can evaluate the performance of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) strains tailored to their specific by-product streams. Located in Saskatoon, Canada, a region known as Canada’s “breadbasket” and one of the world’s most productive farming areas, the NAIC is ideally positioned to lead the way in transforming agricultural by-products into sustainable protein. While Bühler’s TRU with its sophisticated climate control system and its numerous sensors is not only able to provide the full flexibility in setting adequate climate conditions for BSF rearing, the data collected from the sensors also give valuable process insights that are key in further optimizing rearing conditions. NRGene’s expertise in genomics and phenotyping on the other hand pave the way for the development of high-performing BSF strains, driving significant advancements in the field. Initial trials have already shown remarkable results, highlighting the synergy between cutting-edge technology and genetic innovation.
Andreas Baumann, Head of Market Segment Insect Technology at Bühler, emphasized the collaborative spirit of the NAIC:
“Combining NRGene’s genomic data tools and our advanced technologies will allow companies to leverage the deep industry and process knowledge of both companies to produce BSF larvae more efficiently and at lower costs. This will enable insect producers to bring bigger product volumes at consistent quality to the market fostering a broader adoption of this sustainable protein source in the animal feed sector.” – Andreas Baumann, Head of Market Segment Insect Technology @ Bühler
The ITC in Uzwil, Switzerland – Fine-tuning climate conditions to increase yield and save energy
The need to validate mass balances for planned insect facilities was the driving force behind the realization of the ITC as Bühler’s first application center for insect technology. While trials to validate mass balances still account for the majority of the customer trials at the ITC, this facility has over the past three years evolved into a center of excellence in rearing-related climate control. Drawing from the local weather data of our customers’ sites, our experts on climate control and BSF nutrition can test how optimized climate settings and adapted feed recipes not only affect the yield of larvae, but also energy consumption. This supports our customers to lower their energy consumption, one of the biggest cost drivers of commercial insect production, without compromising on the output of larvae.
The Joint Lab in Shanghai, China – Looking into next-generation feedstock sources
The Joint Lab operated by the Shanghai branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in collaboration with Bühler China focuses on the use of post-consumer organic waste streams such as kitchen waste in BSF production. Although regulatory restrictions prohibit the use of such next-generation feedstock sources in some parts of the world, the research done by the Joint Lab can help to better understand the risks associated with such post-consumer streams and establish best practices on how to deal with these feedstock sources. This important work lays the foundation for a safe and effective use of these waste streams that hold a huge potential for the future of the insect industry.
Enabling easier entry into the insect industry without a costly pilot plant
Bühler’s application centers for insect technology also lower the barriers to entry for companies new to the insect industry as it enables them to assess the viability of a project without the need to invest into a costly pilot plant. “A company that wants to build an industrial insect plant needs to cover several operational aspects. It includes finding the correct feedstock to rear the larvae, making sure that there is a strong and suitable insect strain to grow, defining suitable climate settings in relation to the larvae growth cycle, or getting emission data required for the permitting process,” says Andreas Baumann. All these topics are essential for a successful insect plant project and can be addressed in Bühler’s global network of insect centers.
Are you interested in learning more about Bühler’s application centers? Or would your insect project benefit from a rearing trial under controlled conditions?
Do not hesitate to reach out to our Business Development Manager Nicolas Braun (nicolas.braun@buhlergroup.com).
To find out more information about the insect farming industry and our BSF equipment suppliers, Read the full issue of Beta Buzz#5 – The Protein Edit here
Read more about BÜHLER on pages 11-12 of Beta Buzz #5 – The MUST-HAVE Insect Farming Publication
Alternatively, for more information about BÜHLER, please visit the website www.buhlergroup.com
