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Hexafly Black Soldier Fly Protein and Oils for Fishfeed

Project description

Flies fed on agricultural waste are a treasure trove of proteins and oils

Proteins and oils are a necessary nutritional requirement for animals as well as humans. Animal feed often relies on fishmeal or soymeal, placing stresses on fish stock for human consumption and on arable land for soy production. The Irish SME Toggam Enterprises has developed a bioconversion process to turn agricultural waste into feeds and fertilisers by breeding black soldier flies in it. The flies yield valuable proteins, a nutritious oil loaded with omega fatty acids and chitin from their exoskeletons, which can be used to make biodegradable plastics and more. The EU-funded Hexafly project is helping the team optimise the process and prepare the commercialisation roadmap.

Objective

Hexafly’s innovative solution provides the proteins and oils needed for nutritious feed profiles through the bio-conversion of agricultural waste with little or no nutritional value into a viable feedstock through the breeding of Black Soldier Fly larvae. These are then processed into a protein meal rich in amino acids, and a nutritious oil loaded with omega 3, 6 and 9, this oil has recently been verified as having a nearly identical profile to coconut oil. Within the very same process, the shells of the insects are separated from the insect proteins in order to increase their digestibility, which is then converted into the valuable chitin commodity. Hexafly use their innovative Bio-Conversion technology to up-cycle low value vegetative waste from various industries converting it into high value sustainable natural commodities providing an environmentally friendly cleantech solution to many of the serious problems and issues facing the Animal Feed and Fertiliser Markets. Hexafly’s insect based oils and protein provide a much more ecologically friendly feed source than fishmeal or soymeal, providing more nutritional value, and without requiring the use of any arable land. It is a highly sustainable procedure utilising bio-conversion of agricultural waste to produce a high quality source of nutrition with a minimum carbon footprint. Hexafly’s innovative solution contributes to the green circular economy by reducing reliance on wild fish stocks, while promoting the sustainable growth of existing aquaculture to meet growing human consumption demands. In addition, its adoption will reduce reliance on soy which takes up excessive amounts of arable land, of which may be channelled instead to alternative crops or directed for human consumption. When compared to current market solutions Hexafly can deliver a 90% reduction in greenhouse emissions.

Call for proposal

H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

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Sub call

H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1

Coordinator

TOGGAM ENTERPRISES LIMITED
Net EU contribution
€ 50 000,00
Address
THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE, KELLS
A82YF72 KILSKYRE
Ireland

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Ireland Eastern and Midland Mid-East
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost
€ 71 429,00