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Creating High Performance Insect Breeds via a Platform for Typing of Insect Strains

Project description

Insects as a source of high-quality animal protein

The global feed market is anticipated to face a shortage of 60 million tonnes of protein by 2030. Insect protein has huge potential, and the black soldier fly (BSF) is a prime candidate for insect production. However, little focus has been placed on creating new breeds of high-performance BSF. The EU-funded PLATYPIS project aims to provide an innovative solution by developing high-performance BSF breeds using high-throughput technologies. The main objective is to double the productivity of the entire “insects as feed” industry by supplying breeds to BSF producers, ultimately increasing access to high-quality animal protein.

Objective

The global feed market is expected to experience a shortage of 60M tonnes of protein by 2030. Insect protein has huge potential to be produced efficiently and locally, strengthening the EU protein and feed supply chains. Globally, the Black Soldier Fly (BSF), has emerged as the prime candidate for insect production – 30 commercial producers already operate in the EU, with anticipated outputs of 1.2M tonnes of insect protein by 2025.

However, little focus has been put on developing new breeds of high-performance BSF. Beta Bugs, the insect breeding company, vision is one in which insects feed, fuel and supply a growing population. To do this we have developed an innovative solution to this problem: creating high performance BSF breeds using high-throughput technologies, including the PLATform for TYPing of Insect Strains. Our current objective is to double the productivity of the entire “insects as feed” industry by supplying our breeds to BSF producers, our customers.

Our breeds amplify BSF producer yields, driving down costs of production whilst simultaneously boosting product quality. Our breeds are built with agri-food value chain stakeholders in mind, ensuring they also benefit the entire agri-food value chain. In farming these breeds, BSF producers will be able to compete on price with soymeal and fishmeal, whilst providing a stable protein supply to the EU’s agri-food chain. This ensures that consumers will still be access high-quality animal protein despite population growth and diminished supply of soy and fishmeal from outside of the EU.

This Phase 1 SME Instrument project aligns with Beta Bugs’ business strategy by enabling it to assess the technical, financial and commercial feasibility of producing, commercializing and distributing elite BSF breeds to European BSF producers. In doing so, Beta Bugs will identify key factors and risks that will determine market entry, and build the customer network through which it will fast track its breeds.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

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Coordinator

BETA BUGS LIMITED
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 50 000,00
Address
46-54 HIGH STREET
CM4 9DW INGATESTONE ESSEX
United Kingdom

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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
East of England Essex Heart of Essex
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 71 429,00
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