Insect farming is a new industry which has a lot of really interesting startups. There are folks offering very high-tech solutions and even cutting-edge prototypes, but there isn’t any really established technology – it’s all still in the development phase.
Technically, we need a bioreactor. That’s essentially just a controlled space for a biological reaction. In this case, we need to control ventilation, temperature, airflow and light, while our insect larvae eat their food and grow.
Our process involves putting feedstock and insect larvae in trays, stacking them in the bioreactor to feed and grow, and then harvesting them. Up to now we’re at cupboard scale, running up to 10 trays at a time.
Our pilot bioreactor will allow us to scale up to 500+ trays. It’s in a stone building and we’re currently working on insulating it and some basic fitting out. We’re already using solar power and the next goal is to add a heat pump to keep the energy use and costs low. We’re also looking at a heat exchanger for the necessary ventilation.
Energy use is a key climate consideration for the industry, especially in temperate or colder countries. BSFL need temperatures of 25C + to convert feedstock effectively. It’s also a key cost component – so we are keen to maximise efficiency even at small/pilot scale.
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