Hermetia Illucens as a Supplier of High-Quality Insect Protein

For the production of our insect protein, we use the larvae of Hermetia illucens (black soldier flies). Depending on their sex, these insects, which are now spread almost all over the world, reach a size of between 14 and 17 millimetres.

The larvae of the black soldier fly can be kept in unheated halls and fed completely with vegetable waste. Accordingly, no additional feed is required for breeding the larvae. With less than two kilograms of feed, around one kilogram of larvae can be bred.

About seven days after hatching, the larvae of the black soldier fly are the right size to be processed. They are then processed into insect protein and insect fat or insect puree, which we use in our cereal-free wet food for dogs and cats, for example.

The larvae can be completely recycled so, unlike conventional farm animals, there is virtually no waste during their breeding. Their faeces can be processed into high-quality, natural fertiliser. Huge amounts of environmentally harmful liquid manure, such as that produced when breeding cattle, can thus be avoided.

Why we decided against mealworms

When it comes to insects as food, most people will probably think of mealworms first. However, after much deliberation, we have deliberately decided against mealworms and in favour of Hermetia illucens as a source of insect protein.

This is because the larvae of the black soldier fly can not only be processed much faster but also offer various advantages for the environment. Since they can be fed with vegetable waste, the larvae require particularly little space and since they do not have to be kept in heated halls, the energy consumption during their breeding is very low.

A direct comparison between mealworms and the larvae of Hermetia illucens very quickly shows that the latter consume significantly fewer resources and are therefore without a doubt ahead in terms of sustainability.