Why Farm Insects?
Learn more about how insect farming can improve our environment and our industries.
Insect Farming – What is it?
Insect farming involves breeding, rearing and harvesting insects which can be used for a number of purposes, including as an ingredient for animal feed.
The diet of the insects is closely monitored and controlled in compliance with the current standards for animal feed. The substrate (from which the insect obtains its nourishment) is sourced from registered operators and often prepared in order to match the dietary requirements of the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) and their lifecycle. After the larval stage of the BSF life cycle, the leftovers are used as fertiliser on nearby agricultural land, which provides a circular approach that values the importance of soil fertility. (International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed)
Why farm insects?
Contribute to net zero with sustainable ingredients
Maintain a low carbon footprint with local feed source
Decrease the amount of imported soy, helping to reduce deforestation
Raise thriving livestock, conserving our planets natural resources
Restore nature with circular economy
Insects could save 600,000 tonnes of CO2, if fed all the UK’s food waste
Major challenges fuelling climate change
The insect farming industry is helping to combat three major areas contributing to our damaged climate.
Food Waste
Deforestation
Carbon Emissions
The effects of soya in animal feed on the environment are of increasing concern. Worldwide, 80 billion animals are reared and slaughtered each year.
All these animals require their own nutrition in the form of animal feed for growth and metabolism. Growing this feed unfortunately requires precious resources like land and water. The production of soy in particular (75% of which is used in animal feed) is fuelling climate change through deforestation and habitat conversion in critical ecosystems along with the overuse of harsh farm chemicals (WWF, Future of Feed Report).
In recent years, as livestock and farmed fish production have expanded, the sustainability of common animal feed sources has come into question. Aquaculture production has increased by over 50-fold since 1960, putting increasing pressure on fishmeal (a feed ingredient made from wild-caught fish and fish by-products) and soybean meal. Both these ingredients will struggle to meet increased demand, and as prices rise, the demand for alternatives will increase (Barclays, Insect Protein Report).
How Are Beta Bugs Contributing Towards Zero Waste And Circular Economy?
Beta Bugs was founded in 2017 by Thomas Farrugia, with early-stage investment from Deep Science Ventures in London. Securing competitive 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.
Its focus as an insect genetics company is to develop and distribute Black Soldier Fly breeds to the insect farming sector, with a mission to double the output of the entire industry through the use of genetics.
By applying tried and tested breeding techniques, utilising high-throughput technologies and leveraging Black Soldier Fly biology, the company is achieving improved genetic performance and bringing it to market, contributing towards addressing the growing climate crisis and giving an alternative, sustainable protein source of feed to animals.
"Beta Bugs was set up to address the missing link in insect farming – genetics. In doing so, we enable our industry to achieve scale whilst maintaining product quality and achieving price competitiveness."
Benefits of Insect Farming
Many businesses and individuals are now working with or joining the insect farming sector as it becomes more readily accessible. Insect farming offers numerous benefits, both environmentally and economically such as:
Bioconversion of organic waste and reduced landfill
Reduce agricultural waste and promote nutrient recycling
Sustainable protein source
Efficient feed conversion
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
Low water footprint
Food security and resilience
The Supply Chain
Insect farming is a global industry and although there are variations on the theme according to region and species, the concept itself is simple – farm insects and then process them into end products which are typically linked up the wider agri-food chain.
Although this sounds simple, like all other production operations, there are inherent challenges when it comes to scaling. This is where the insect farming industry is now entering a new stage of its’ development – specialisation and segmentation. Within our industry, there is a growing ecosystem of specialised companies that offer solutions that enable insect farmers to focus on what they do best: production.
Working with other companies is not an alien concept in agri-food and other industries, especially when it’s horizontally segmented – after all, how many farmers build their own tractors?
By working with partners that are able to provide the right solutions, producers can scale faster, unlock efficiencies and produce a better price, rather than having to spend time and resource re-inventing the wheel.
Key components in the supply chain:
Breeding and rearing
The supply chain begins with sourcing high-quality breeding stock of black soldier flies from BSF egg suppliers such as Beta Bugs. Breeders or suppliers maintain colonies of black soldier flies and produce eggs or larvae for sale to insect farmers or protein producers. Insect farmers rear the larvae in controlled environments, providing suitable conditions for growth and development.
Suitable feedstock
Insect farmers secure organic waste feedstock for feeding the black soldier fly larvae. This may include surplus food, agricultural residues, food processing waste, or organic by-products from various industries such as spent grains from a local brewery. Waste management companies may also supply organic waste streams to insect farms for recycling through the insect rearing process.
Insect rearing and harvesting
Insect farmers rear black soldier fly larvae on the organic waste substrate, allowing them to feed and grow. They monitor environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and ventilation to optimise insect performance. Once the larvae have reached the desired stage of development, they are harvested from the substrate for further processing.
Processing and value-added products
Harvested black soldier fly larvae are processed into various value-added products such as insect protein, insect oil, fertiliser, bioplastics, and animal health products. Processing may involve drying, grinding, extracting, or refining the larvae to produce the desired end products. Manufacturers or processors transform the insect-derived materials into market-ready products suitable for distribution and sale.
Distribution
Insect-derived products are distributed through various channels to reach end-users and consumers. Distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and online platforms can facilitate the distribution of insect-based products to different markets, industries, and customers.
Market and end-use applications
Insect-derived products are used in a variety of end-use applications across different industries. Insect protein is used as a feed ingredient for livestock such as pigs, poultry, and aquaculture. Insect oil can used in biodiesel production, animal feed additives, or human nutrition supplements. Other insect-based products are used in agriculture, food processing, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and waste management, among other applications.
How farmers can diversify into insect farming
Farmers can diversify into insect farming in a number of ways by either becoming an insect farmer themselves, working with a BSF egg and/or neonate supplier or simply introducing an insect-based protein ingredient into their feeding regime for the likes of chickens and other poultry. Here are ways farmers can introduce insect farming into their current operations:
Get Familiar with the Rearing Process
Market entrants may want to test out the rearing operation first before streamlining into their current processes therefore, Beta Bugs have created a Black Soldier Fly Starter Pack for market entrants who are interested in piloting the rearing of their own Black Soldier Fly. The BSF Starter Pack also gives new market entrants the ability to test out the rearing operation, environmental conditions, and food source for BSF before streamlining into their current processes.
Acquire Suitable Production Facilities
Farmers need to set up production facilities tailored to farming insects by working with established technology suppliers. This may involve constructing or purchasing rearing units or suitable containers equipped with appropriate environmental controls such as temperature, humidity, ventilation, and lighting to optimise insect performance. Beta Bugs can easily signpost you to relevant suppliers based on your desired scale – or alternatively, have a look through our issues of Beta Buzz to identify suitable companies.
Work with Established BSF Egg and/or Neonate Suppliers
Farmers can now produce insects at a range of scales – be it small-scale systems (12 tonne of live larvae/year) that produce larvae for on-farm usage or supplying neighbouring farms, or large-scale facilities (1000+ tonne of insect meal per year) that will supply animal feed manufacturers. Both these routes allow farmers to diversify their operations in a low-carbon way, sourcing high-quality BSF eggs and/or juvenile BSF larvae from reputable suppliers such as Beta Bugs. Healthy and genetically diverse breeding stock is essential for establishing a successful insect farming operation and maintaining a productive colony.
Source and Provide Suitable Feeding Substrates
Farmers need to provide suitable feeding substrates or diets to their insects to ensure optimal growth and development. Feeding substrates may include organic waste streams such as spent grains from a local brewery, agricultural by-products or agricultural products (e.g fruit and vegetable or dairy surplus) that have not been taken up by the supply chain or pre-consumer food waste from nearby retail/customer-facing businesses, turning potential waste streams into a circular protein source. As regulations are further relaxed, it will also be possible for farmers to use insect farms to process manure slurries and feedstocks containing meat products and post-consumer food waste.
Harvest and Process Insects
Farmers develop harvesting and processing protocols to efficiently collect and prepare insects for sale or further processing. This may involve separating insects from their substrate, cleaning, sorting, and packaging them for sale as live insects, dried insects, or insect-based products such as insect oil or ground insect powder. If it is not possible for a farmer to diversify into the sector, they can also work with a supplier of insects to simply use them within their feeding regime.
Explore Market Opportunities
Farmers can explore and sell into potential markets for their insect products, including protein producers, pet food manufacturers, aquaculture farms, and fertiliser producers. They can also consider direct sales to consumers through farmers' markets or online stores. Further market opportunities will also become available in the future as the insect farming industry identifies new products for new sectors e.g use of BSF oil in cosmetics or biofuels.
By following these steps and embracing insect farming as a complementary or alternative process, farmers can diversify their income streams, improve resource efficiency, and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient agricultural system.
How waste management companies can utilise insect farming
Waste management companies can integrate insect farming into their current processes to enhance organic waste recycling, produce valuable resources, and reduce environmental impact. Here is how they can implement insect farming:
Pilot BSF Rearing
To get accustomed with the basics of BSF rearing, we would recommend purchasing 1-2 XL Starter Packs from us and letting us know you are intending to use them for waste processing
Set Up BSF Rearing Facilities
Waste management companies can establish insect rearing facilities within or adjacent to their waste management facilities with insect species such as BSF which are well-suited for converting organic waste into protein-rich biomass. These facilities can be designed to accommodate BSF and equipped with appropriate environmental controls such as temperature, humidity, and ventilation.
Work with Established BSF Egg and/or Neonate Suppliers
Farmers can now produce insects at a range of scales – be it small-scale systems (12 tonne of live larvae/year) that produce larvae for on-farm usage or supplying neighbouring farms, or large-scale facilities (1000+ tonne of insect meal per year) that will supply animal feed manufacturers. Both these routes allow farmers to diversify their operations in a low-carbon way, sourcing high-quality BSF eggs and/or juvenile BSF larvae from reputable suppliers such as Beta Bugs. Healthy and genetically diverse breeding stock is essential for establishing a successful insect farming operation and maintaining a productive colony.
Source Organic Waste Feedstock
Waste management companies can use organic waste streams generated from their operations or sourced from external sources as feedstock for Black Soldier Fly Larvae. This may include surplus food, agricultural waste, food processing waste, or organic sludge from wastewater treatment plants.
Process Organic Waste
Waste management companies should firstly preprocess organic waste to optimise its suitability as BSF larvae feedstock. This may involve shredding, grinding, or blending the waste to create a uniform and digestible substrate for the BSF larvae.
Introduce Insects to Feedstock
Waste management companies introduce BSF larvae to the prepared organic waste substrate. The insects will feed on the organic matter, converting it into protein-rich biomass through their natural growth and metabolism processes.
Manage BSF Colonies
Waste management companies need to monitor and manage their Black Soldier Fly colonies to ensure optimal growth and productivity. This involves maintaining appropriate environmental conditions, managing population densities, and providing regular feedings. Beta Bugs can provide support in this regard through regular supplies of Black Soldier Fly eggs and by providing technical assistance to ensure you get the most out of your larvae farming operation.
Harvest Insects and Residual Waste
Once the insects have processed the organic waste substrate, waste management companies harvest the black soldier fly larvae and residual waste for further processing. Harvested insects can be used as protein-rich feed ingredients for livestock, aquaculture, or pet food, while residual waste can be composted or used as an organic fertiliser.
Explore Market Opportunities
Waste management companies can explore a number of value-added products derived from insect farming, such as insect-based protein powders, oils, fertiliser, biofuels or bioplastics. These products can increase the ESG scores for your customers, whilst generating additional revenue streams and contributing to a circular economy approach to waste management.
Overall, integrating insect farming into their current processes allows waste management companies to enhance organic waste recycling, produce valuable resources, and contribute to a more sustainable and circular approach to waste management.