From Left: ■
Dr. Gil Ronen, CEO and Founder of NRGene. Copyright NRGene. ■ Andreas Baumann, Head of
Market Segment Insect Technology at Bühler. Copyright Bühler. ■ Insight into an insect growth
chamber that will move to the North American Insect Center. Copyright Bühler.
Uzwil (Switzerland),
Ness Ziona (Israel), September 6, 2023 – Bühler, the Swiss technology
group, and NRGene Technologies Ltd. (TASE: NRGN), an Israeli genomics company,
announced a strategic collaboration today in the field of black soldier fly
(BSF) genetics and processing. The two companies are combining their expertise
to provide solutions and services to this rapidly evolving industry.
The partnership between Bühler and NRGene offers BSF
producers a comprehensive solution that incorporates Bühler's high-end
equipment and engineering capabilities and NRGene's novel genetics and AI-based
genomics tools. Production equipment and tailor-made high-performance BSF
strains are integrated into a customized solution that ensures cost-effective
industrial-scale production from the start.
“The insect industry is still optimizing its production
costs. Advances in insect genetics are key to achieving this. The benefit of
genetics is already demonstrated in traditional agriculture. Combining the
tailored insect strains with our advanced industrial technology will bring a
step change in the production of insects,” says Andreas Baumann, Head of Market
Segment Insect Technology at Bühler. “The overall solution will result in a
high yield of superior products while ensuring an efficient use of raw
materials, land, water, and energy. This makes the investment in insect
production more attractive as it gives owners a crucial competitive advantage
in the marketplace.”
"There is a growing demand for meat to feed carnivorous
pets and farm animals. It is our belief that to realize BSF's huge potential as
an alternative sustainable protein source used for feed, it is essential to
integrate the expertise of various disciplines into this new industry, from
genetics to engineering. We are excited to partner with Bühler as we move
towards a cost-efficient industry scaleup,” says Dr. Gil Ronen, NRGene’s CEO
and Founder.
Insects are a healthy and sustainable source of protein for animal feed. They can contribute to a circular economy model as insects can be fed on organic waste, such as food leftovers and waste from agriculture, to produce feed for pets, fish, and livestock. The residues from insect farming, or frass, can in turn be used as a fertilizer, contributing to the zero-waste approach.
From Left: ■
NRGene harnesses the power of genomic data to obtain insect strains with
improved performance. Copyright NRGene. ■
Combining NRGene’s optimized insect strains with Bühler’s advanced industrial
technology will bring a step change in the production of insects. Copyright
Bühler & NRGene.
Black soldier fly is considered one of the most sustainable
meat alternatives for carnivorous pets and farm animals. Its protein and fat
provide animals with a higher level of nutrition and health than other protein
sources. The industrial use of BSF is rapidly gaining traction among businesses
seeking alternative protein feed sources and more sustainable practices. The
main challenge this industry faces right now is reducing production costs in
order to make BSF meals more commercially viable for various applications.
Bühler is a world-leading company with more than 160 years
of experience in providing solutions to the food, feed, and mobility
industries. In the past 10 years, Bühler has been developing its capabilities
in the insect protein industry and has already completed a number of relevant
projects in the field.
NRGene is well known for its advanced AI genomics technology
that has been successfully implemented in more than 300 projects for leading
ag-tech and food-tech companies across the globe. Aware of the potential of the
growing BSF industry and its need for advanced genomic solutions, NRGene
decided to develop a novel BSF genetics, through its Canadian wholly owned
subsidiary. NRGene’s key goal is to provide its customers with elite BSF
varieties, tailored to their specific cultivation conditions and feed.
New Insect Center for
North America
NRGene will establish a North American Insect Center at its
Canadian subsidiary in Saskatchewan. Bühler will equip the Insect Center with
insect growth chambers with controlled environments and sensors that can
simulate industrial conditions and provide process insights. The Center will
serve as a testing and demonstration facility for both companies' customers,
enabling them to evaluate the performance of chosen BSF variety, operational
parameters, and practices, in order to ensure efficient industrial-scale insect
production.
Source: Email/GFMM
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