Black soldier fly
This insect is popular due to its ability to convert low-value biomass (e.g. waste) into high-value components such as ...
project
Insect Research and Practice Center
With this project, the Expertise Centre for Sustainable Biomass and Chemistry of Thomas More aims to establish a Practical Insect Centre, a testing facility and innovation hub for insect farming. The primary objective of the centre is to accelerate the integration and application of insect farming in Flanders and Belgium, thereby enabling the benefits of insects to be utilized on a larger scale.
At present, the breeding and use of insects in all its aspects remains limited to a small segment of the market. To accelerate their introduction, more applied knowledge, research, and innovation at a larger scale are required. In addition to the existing research infrastructure at pilot scale, there is a need for a practical centre that approaches commercial scale.
Innovations in the production of alternative protein sources, the recycling of raw materials (residual and/or waste streams), and the upgrading of these materials into high-value food products at stable prices are crucial. The rearing and use of larvae of the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) fits within this strategy. These larvae are capable of converting “low-value” streams into high-value raw materials (biocomponents) consisting of proteins, fats, chitin, and frass.
In addition to their use as an alternative protein source, for example in feed, these materials can also be applied in the oil industry and cosmetics, while frass can be used as a soil improver in the agriculture and horticulture sectors or as a potential energy carrier (biogas production).
That insects, and more specifically the Black Soldier Fly (BSF), have this potential has been known for about a decade. Research has already been carried out, both nationally and internationally, by various knowledge institutions such as Thomas More, KU Leuven, Inagro, ILVO, and VITO. These studies have generated important insights with regard to optimizing insect rearing.
However, this research has largely been limited to laboratory and pilot scale, meaning that innovative ideas can be tested as proof of concept, but the results obtained cannot be directly translated into real business operations. To achieve this, a practical centre is required that enables experiments to be carried out at true commercial scale with appropriate infrastructure.
A practical centre is essential to convince Flemish companies of the added value and feasibility of insect farming and to support them in its concrete implementation. The centre will provide the opportunity to demonstrate the required infrastructure, showcase rearing methods, and allow stakeholders to experience insect farming in practice, while also enabling the systematic execution of research.
This research focuses on developing new knowledge and skills aimed at innovative processes, rearing methods, and services. In addition, the centre will make its knowledge and infrastructure available to third parties and will offer training in a realistic business environment.
In this way, the Practical Insect Centre contributes to priority domains of the Flemish Smart Specialisation strategy, including sustainable chemistry and the agri-food industry, and acts as a practice-oriented lever for the transition towards a circular economy, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and increased renewable energy (Flemish transition priorities).
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