Green Idea Company, in collaboration with the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and universities, is striving to enhance insect rearing technologies. The objective is to overcome challenges that hinder the scalability and efficiency of insect farming.

The collaboration aims to address the issue of sourcing and processing feed materials for the insects. BSF larvae need a consistent supply of high-protein feed to grow and develop correctly. Traditionally, fish or soybean meal has been used, but these sources are costly and environmentally damaging. Food waste is an alternative source of feed, but it can vary in composition and quality, making it challenging to achieve consistent growth rates and yields. The collaboration aims to optimize the use of food waste as a feed source for insect larvae and to develop new, sustainable feed materials.

The partners are also working to improve the management of the larvae, which can be labor-intensive and require specialized skills. Traditional methods of rearing insect larvae often rely on manual handling and sorting, which can be inefficient. Overcrowding and reduced growth rates due to traditional farming practices can have a negative impact on yields and quality. Therefore, the collaboration aims to develop innovative technologies and farming practices to optimize the rearing of insect larvae.

By collaborating, the Green Idea Company, SARDI, and universities aim to overcome the challenges faced by insect farming, such as sourcing feed materials and managing insect larvae. The resulting optimized insect rearing technologies will enable the industry to be more sustainable and cost-effective, leading to a more efficient and scalable industry.