Agriprotein, an insect protein business part of the holding company Insect Technology Group (ITG), is pushing ahead with its global factory deployment program.

AgriProtein up-cycles organic waste into high-protein animal feed by using black soldier fly. The company is rolling out their G-series factories in a number of locations from California (USA) to the Netherlands, South Africa and is looking for new locations in Asia. The company’s G-series factories have been designed to upcycle approximately 90,000 tons of organic waste per year to produce approximately 4,000 tons of MagMeal (protein), 3,500 tons of MagOil and 16,500 tons of MagSoil.

The holding company is well capitalized raising over $150 million to date and has now over 200 staff working in 11 countries. The company is already producing in their facility in South Africa but is also improving the factory process and strengthening their Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) systems.

Agriprotein also sequenced the genome of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) in collaboration with the South African National Bioinformatics Institute at the University of the Western Cape across both sexes as well as several strains. The team also completed miRNA sequencing on the four life stages of the fly: egg, larvae, pupae and unmated male and female fly in order to create a genetic map of the life of the black soldier fly. The ITG team of over 50 scientists is working on a number of game-changing projects and programs that will continue to improve the output metrics of their factories and improve their understanding of this insect.