Recognition should boost insect meal sales
This week’s announcement that the international fly-farming company AgriProtein had been named in the Global Cleantech Top 100, should help drive sales of its insect meal to more aquafeed markets.
So believes company executive Jason Drew, who told Fish Farming Expert: “This award will add to our international standing as we develop AgriProtein into new aquaculture markets around the world.”
The first commercial-scale insect meal producer in the world, AgriProtein builds and operates its own fly-farms and licenses its technology around the world. It made the list in recognition of its contribution to tackling the waste crisis and helping repair the environment.
Jason continued: “We are really excited that our contribution to clean technology is being recognised on a global level. For AgriProtein to be recognised amongst the top 100 companies with what is a ‘new’ technology is great honour for our team.
“We have worked hard to pioneer nutrient recycling and bring a new source of natural sustainable protein to the aquaculture industry.”
Production methods
A leader in the fast-growing waste-to-nutrient recycling industry, AgriProtein produces insect meal for animal feed by rearing black soldier fly larvae on organic waste that would otherwise go to landfill. The larvae are harvested to make high-protein feed products and ingredients as an alternative to fishmeal.
The world’s biggest fly-farmer, AgriProtein won an AUD 450,000 award in December for its industrially-scalable solution to the depletion of fish stocks in the Indian Ocean in the Australian government-backed Blue Economy Challenge 2016.
In November it raised USD 17.5 million for further expansion, valuing it at USD 117 million and making it the most valuable fly-farming business in the world.
About the awards
Now in its eighth year and run by Cleantech Group (CTG) Global Cleantech 100 represents the most innovative and promising ideas impacting the future of a wide-range of industries. Featuring companies that are best positioned to solve tomorrow’s clean technology challenges, it is a comprehensive list of private companies with the highest potential to make significant market impact within a five to 10 year timeframe.
Richard Youngman, CEO of CTG, said: “We see more signals this year of the ongoing mainstreaming of clean technologies, sustainability, and resource efficiency on its journey towards the point where this is just the normal way business is done.”
To qualify for the Global Cleantech 100, companies must be independent, for-profit, cleantech companies that are not listed on any major stock exchange. This year, a record number of nominations were received: 9,900 distinct companies from 77 countries. These companies were weighted and scored to create a short list of 325 companies. Short-listed nominees were reviewed by CTG’s Expert Panel, resulting in a finalized list of 100 companies from 17 countries.
