Could insects be the answer to a sustainable food supply chain?
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About this Event
Alternative Proteins - Could insects be the answer to a sustainable food supply chain?
Today Industry 4.0 or the Fourth Industrial Revolution is bringing exciting opportunities for farmers to increase productivity, protect the environment and make farming safer.
Whilst there are a range of novel proteins emerging (e.g. algal, bacterial, and yeast-derived), the one with potentially the greatest potential is insect protein, particularly for animal feed for chickens, pigs and salmon.
Highlighted by a 2017 WWF report, in 2010, the British meat industry needed an area the size of Yorkshire to produce the soy used as animal feed. But if global demand for meat grows as expected, soy production would need to increase by nearly 80% by 2050.
As an alternative to soy and fish, insects can be used as “natural up cyclers.” Insects such as Black Soldier fly larvae are able to recover nutrients from organic residues such as low-grade food wastes (rotten fruits and vegetables)and bring them back into the food value chain. Turning them into high-end protein and fat contributing to a “circular economy.”
Insect breeding also allows maximizing of resources use, to grow a tonne of larvae, you just need six days and 20 square meters. . Since no fertile land is needed for their production, they are a promising and sustainable new source of protein compared to today’s main alternatives
With a switch to even more sustainable insects’ diets and the use of renewable energy, insect protein is already markedly better than soy when it comes to water and land use.
Register to join us and our expert guests to dive deeper into Alternative proteins and how you can apply it to your business.
Wendy Hewitson - AgriTech Programme Manager ,will present an overview of the Eagle Labs and the AgriTech Programme
Mark Ramsden – Consultant ADAS
Mark Ramsden is a Crop Protection Scientist, working at ADAS since 2014. He has a background in applied biology, and a PhD in invertebrate pest management. Mark’s main interest is in supporting farmers and agronomists in practical agricultural decision making. ADAS was established over 75 years ago, its teams deliver on national and international projects in a wide array of industries and public sector services. Their strong scientific research skills provide a base on which they aim to deliver real solutions for their clients. Specialist consultants offer specific, strategic and policy advice, as well as applied R&D.
Thomas Farrugia – CEO & Founder of Beta Bugs
Beta Bugs makes better insects. Specifically, we are insect breeders. We create high performance insect genetics for the insects as protein sector using proven biotech and breeding strategies. Our current focus is on the Black Soldier Fly and its use as an animal feed, with a mission of doubling this industry's productivity, enabling it to compete on price point with commoditized feed ingredients. We form part of InnovateUK's £10M "Insectrial Revolution" project, which will develop the UK's insect protein supply chain
Fotis Fotiadis - CEO & Founder Better Origin
Better Origin is an enterprise disrupting the food and feed sector through insect protein. The Cambridge start-up is part of a consortium working in the insect bioconversion sector that has secured a £10million package from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF). Launched in 2018 by Fotis and fellow University of Cambridge graduate Miha Pipan, Better Origin aims to tackle the twin challenges of food security and food waste simultaneously, cutting carbon emissions along the way. “Over the last three years, we have developed a solution, which can convert the full-grown insect into ingredients for salmon feed, pet feed and human food in a sustainable and scalable way."
Any questions you wish to raise please send to AgriTechEagleLabs agritecheaglelabs@barclays.com
A link to join this virtual event will be sent out closer to the event time
We are looking forward to seeing you.
For further information please contact
Wendy Hewitson
Barclays UK
