Around the world it is estimated that approximately 1.4 BILLION tons of food is wasted per year, with an annual cost estimated to be $990 billion.
These losses represent a waste of land, energy, water, input resources, and leads to harmful methane and CO2 emissions. At the same time, the world’s population is expected to reach 9.9 billion by 2050. Consequently, we must develop alternative methods of protein production to meet the increased demand for food.
In comes Food Upcycling. By upcycling food that is typically wasted, we can create additional protein, providing sustainable solutions for two major problems facing our planet.
Our method of upcycling uses the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae.
This is a common species of fly native to the southern United States, including California. They are a non-pest and non-disease carrying species, which can eat a wide variety of food and food by-products and are the backbone of our process.
We currently have an operational test facility in Southern California. Here, we have the capacity to process up to one ton of food waste per day. We’re also building a large-scale operation at our Environmental Campus in Jurupa Valley, which is being designed to handle large volumes from businesses that operate on an industrial scale.
Our facilities transform food and food by-products into a diet for the larvae.
The larvae then feed on the diet, converting it into valuable nutrients stored inside their bodies. We then harvest and process the larvae humanely into animal feed ingredients, while at the same time separating them from the remaining organic soil nutrient material.
What can we make from BSF?
PreZero Protein
PreZero Protein is high-quality, natural, and provides a balanced, sustainable source of amino acids for aquaculture feed, animal feed, and pet food manufacturing, and is an alternative to fishmeal.
PreZero Oil
This is an insect oil that is separated from the protein, and can be used in aquaculture feed, animal feed, and pet food manufacturing, replacing canola oil and fish oil. Due to its high energy and medium-chain fatty acids, such as Lauric acid which has proven anti-microbial properties, the insect oil is also considered a more sustainable replacement to palm oil.
PreZero Frass
Frass is a nutrient-rich fertilizer derived from what is left over after the insects have fed. This frass is an organic material that can be used in composting and other fertilizer applications.