Bioconversion: recovery of biowaste as animal protein

We use insects to transform organic waste from the agricultural and agri-food industries into animal feed and fertilizer. The aim? To ensure a more sustainable food supply for everyone.
Bioconversion, la valorisation des biodéchets en protéines animales

By 2050, global food production will have to increase by 50% to meet the needs of a growing population, particularly the demand for protein.

Nearly 70% of agricultural land is used for livestock production, and the current livestock system is already responsible for 7 gigatons of CO2 emissions per year, or 15% of man-made greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Aquaculture also needs fishmeal, responsible for overfishing and degradation of marine ecosystems.
We must therefore find new sources of protein, more sustainable and respectful of the planet, for consumption by humans as well as farm animals.

What if insects were a resource for the future?

To help ensure better food security for future generations and to protect the environment, we are developing insect-based bioconversion. This solution involves using insects to process food by-products and agricultural waste – in their raw state, liquid or solid – into protein for animal feed.

Harmless to humans and non-invasive, the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, is an insect present on all continents. Its strength lies in its appetite for various types of organic matter in its larval stage. Detritivore, it feeds on animal, plant or fungal debris, and acts as a natural recycler of nutrients. In other words, when placed in contact with organic by-products, black soldier fly larvae feed and grow. Once they reach a sufficient size, they are washed, dehydrated, ground and transformed into oil and protein concentrate.

Aquaculture et réutilisation des eaux usées

 

1 kg of black soldier fly eggs produces 6 metric tons of larvae in 10 days, which, once fed with organic matter, is recovered as animal protein.

Visit our insect farms: 

We turn organic waste into animal feed

Insect protein can be used in pet food and livestock feed, especially for fish, poultry and pork, as a replacement for fish meal.

In addition to the protein product, frass, a bioconversion co-product, is an excellent organic fertilizer, restoring soil organic matter and replacing chemical fertilizers.

  • Creating a circular food chain
     
  • Maximizing the value of organic by-products
     
  • Reducing the complexity of by-product management, with long-term visibility
      

Find out more about how we use plants to treat wastewater >

Are you a farmer or agribusiness? What are the benefits for you?

Bioconversion, la valorisation des biodéchets en protéines animales

We did it!

Malaysia
Industrialization of the solution

Veolia Bioconversion Malaysia Sdn Bhd operates one of the largest insect industrial facilities in Asia. It has a production capacity of 3,000 tons of insect products per year

Bouches-du-Rhône

France

Setting up a black soldier fly farm

Based in the Bouches-du-Rhône region, our partner Mutatec is developing black soldier fly farms. The startup uses the black soldier fly and bio-waste to produce feed for aquaculture and poultry farming.

Interested in Bioconversion? Contact us