It's been producing insect-based feed ingredients out of the Rocky View plant for the pet food, poultry and wild bird markets in
The insects are black soldier flies and the plant is able to recycle 130 tonnes of food waste per day and turn it into 10 tonnes of high-protein feed along with 10,000 to 15,000 tonnes of organic fertilizer.
"It's really quite disheartening how much of that food doesn't make it to the plate," said
The fly larvae are fed a mixture of food waste and agricultural byproducts — primarily fruits and vegetables that come from food processors.
The insects can then be fed to poultry and fish as well as to cats, dogs and reptiles. A trial is underway to see if it will work in the pork sector as well.
"Black soldier flies are prolific breeders. They grow very quickly — one million per cent of their body weight in just three weeks," said Driver.
"They're very docile to manage."
The federal
"You have broken new ground as the first company in
"Seeing it on such a scale, I think it's interesting. I'm very open to all of these innovations that can feed animals but also feed the world."
Driver said
"Our sources of feedstock tend to be in and around metropolitan regions."
This report by
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