“Whilst the Covid-19 global pandemic has halted progress on implementation of some of the wider SDGs as reported in the UN’s 2022 report,” says Jess Barker, Insect Bioconversion Business Development Manager at Fera Science Ltd., “investment in innovation and implementation of new production techniques particularly in the fields of agritech and food waste management has continued apace to aid implementation of selected SDGs. One exciting aspect of this innovation is insect bioconversion.”

Jess is the appointed business development lead for the insect bioconversion services in which Fera has invested over £1m. The new laboratory will enable Fera to upscale its current insect services and help meet the needs of producers and providers, right across the food and feed value chains. The service will demonstrate insect bioconversion at scale by replicating insect farming in a factory setting, centred on the use of black soldier fly larvae to convert biomass residues into protein-rich food and other valuable products, whilst also managing waste streams.

“But the real innovation of the new laboratory with its expert team,” explains Jess, “ is in its ability to advise companies working across the food and feed value chains to think about how insect bioconversion can help manage their bio-waste streams, as well as influence production and processing operations on farm, or across the manufacture, distribution and retail sectors.”

Companies are increasingly required to demonstrate to their B2B customers and consumers that they are committed to improving their sustainability credentials. The strategic and innovative use of insect bioconversion can help organisations reduce volumes of bio-waste to landfill and thus harmful greenhouse gas emissions, replace unsustainable fishmeal in aquaculture and other livestock feed, whilst also creating natural fertiliser to improve soil health and crop resistance to disease.

“These practical innovations align directly with a number of the SDGs,” explains Jess, “from SDG 9 focused on industry, innovation and infrastructure and SDG 12 on responsible production, to SDG 14 on protecting the ocean and SDG 15 reducing land degradation, through to the SDG 13 and its focus on addressing climate change.”

Jess concludes: “By working in partnership with Fera and the insights and science embedded in the insect research laboratory on insect bioconversion solutions, businesses can demonstrate commitment to their own sustainability journey and to the UN’s SDGs.”

 

Read more about which of the UN's SDGs insect bioconversion is directly linked to here.

For more information on Fera's insect bioconversion services, click here.