Slashing new CO2Protein from trash-eating flies.
The Big Idea
Vast amounts of the world’s arable land are used to grow food for livestock, a primary contributor to deforestation. In particular, the cultivation of soybeans has taken a dramatic toll on plant life and biodiversity, as 70% of that soy is consumed by animals. Instead, sourcing those proteins from insects, a natural part of diets for pigs, fish, and chicken, can dramatically reduce livestock emissions.
How it Works
Entocycle cultivates black soldier flies. The process starts by harvesting fly eggs. The larvae hatch in containers of organic food waste, such as coffee grounds, which they feed on, efficiently converting it into protein. Using modular, highly automated processes, the mature larvae are sorted and ground into a powder ready for distribution. What is left behind is lipids and frass, a potent natural fertilizer.
Their Superpower
In the face of looming global protein shortages, attention is homing in on insects. Entocycle’s edge is computer vision models that enable them to precisely measure insect populations at the microscopic egg and airborne object levels. As a result, they are able to churn out highly-predictable yields of five-day-old black soldier fly larvae, the fastest converter of food waste back into protein.
08
Gigatons of CO2e
potentially avoided by 2050
KIERAN OLIVARES WHITAKER CEO & FOUNDER
Keiran has a Master of Science in urban regeneration and development with focus on urban sustainability from the University of Manchester.
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