In Ecuador, the production of fly meal, which has already started, would reduce CO2 emissions and deforestation

Inside some kind of mosquito net they flew hundreds of flies of the species Hermetia inclining, better known as a black soldier. Underneath is a compartment for these insects to lay their eggs. Then the larvae are expected to emerge to start the fattening process with agroindustrial waste such as potato peel, banana, passion fruit. These residues are made into a paste and placed on top of the larvae for them to eat. The larvae increase their weight by up to 300%. Once they reach the appropriate measure, they are taken to an oven and then pulverized in a mill to obtain flour.

This is the process that the Bioconversion company to obtain insect protein. Its plant, the first of its kind in all of Latin America, was officially inaugurated last Thursday and is located on the campus of the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (Espol). This company is the first operator of the Special Economic Development Zone (ZEDE) of the Espol.

The production of this fly meal promotes the circular economy in Ecuadorsays Mauricio Laniado, one of Bioconversión’s investors. While up to 1,500 pounds of soy protein can be grown in one hectare of land, up to two million pounds of soy protein can be produced in the same space.. This would reduce the impact of deforestation and CO2 emissions in the country.

Laniado clarifies that this type of fly is not the common one that we can find in houses: “As an adult, it does not eat, it has no mouth, it is very docile, it does not stop in organic matter, it does not transmit diseases. They only absorb moisture. They only live to reproduce and lay their eggs ”.

Is that the Hermetia inclining It has been approved for consumption in both animals and adults on continents such as Europe. In addition, Laniado highlights, lhe flour from this fly has a high nutritional value: 45% protein and 26% fat. One kilo of these larvae can ingest up to 20 tons of organic agricultural waste in ten days.

With the excrement of the insect and the residues of the organic matter, fertilizer rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is also made, and is ideal for, for example, improving the soils of banana plantations, says Enrique García, the company’s production manager. : “95% of the larvae that we process are made into flour and 5% are allowed to grow, to pupate so that the adult emerges. This insect is present all over the world ”.

Mauricio Laniado: ‘In the next 10 years, insect meal may be an industry that generates up to $ 160 million a year’

The flour is used to make food for any animal, including pets (dogs or cats), livestock, fish, pigs or birds.. It even protects the digestive system of animals. Meanwhile, to feed species such as shrimp, which leads the country’s non-oil exports, you only have to extract the percentage of fat from the flour. In turn, this fat can be converted into oil, which is as rich in omega 3 as fish.

All of this also helps reduce CO2 emissions in those industries. Another of the environmental components that this product has is that it would reduce overfishing, says Laniado: “30% of the catch is used to produce fish meal for animal feed. This 30%, with the use of insect meal, should not be caught”. A peculiar fact is that fly flour has an odor similar to that of chocolate.

For Sergio Flores, president of ZEDE, the opening of this plant in turn opens a new industry in the country that is based on innovation. “There is also a concept of circular economy and this is related to the fivefold helix, which is the relationship between academia, industry, government, civil society and sustainable development to meet the objectives of which the United Nations speaks to us.”

Although the cost of fly meal is higher, the added value of caring for the environment makes the difference, Laniado and García agree.. They indicate that local entrepreneurs should bet more on this type of initiative, since the idea is to take care of the planet.

Espol will support Bioconversión in the scientific component and explore what other products can be obtained through fly meal. The company will produce about 1,200 metric tons of protein from this insect and 5,000 of compost per year. (I)