The first proposed project for the EIT-Hub is a ‘gold standard manual for black soldier fly production, processing and use’. This will put the research already carried out on black soldier flies into a more accessible format and enable stakeholders to discuss issues across the globe.
AgriFutures Australia senior manager, Emerging Industries, Dr Olivia Reynolds believes this first project is a good representation of the overarching purpose of the EIT-Hub, and AgriFutures’ involvement.
‘There’s a lot of learnings on black soldier flies that could come together into an instruction manual that would help industry to refine processes and develop technologies. That speaks to our fundamental reason for existing: knowledge sharing and a collaborative approach to scientific endeavours,’ said Dr Reynolds.
Black soldier flies feed on organic waste and can be harvested within two weeks to be used as a highly nutritious animal feed. They have a short life cycle, which means they reproduce quickly and have the added benefit of producing insect frass (excrement) that can be used as a fertiliser.
The research in eastern Africa with icipe has shown that rearing insects, such as black soldier flies, for animal feed provides a high-protein feed for animals including fish, pigs and poultry. Emerging insect industries such as this have also been a point of interest for AgriFutures Australia.
‘Insects are an area where AgriFutures currently invests within the Emerging Industries Program because we’ve identified insects as an industry with high growth potential in Australia,’ said Dr Reynolds.
‘The EIT-Hub is a mechanism through which we can bring the industry together like ACIAR and icipe to exchange knowledge and ideas and to aid the growth and development of the industry.
‘And because there is a lot of common ground surrounding insects, we thought this is much bigger than Australia. And there was a clear opportunity to connect with Africa, so that is our starting point. But our goal for the EIT-Hub is to expand further across the globe.’
The first proposed project for the EIT-Hub is a ‘gold standard manual for black soldier fly production, processing and use’. This will put the research already carried out on black soldier flies into a more accessible format and enable stakeholders to discuss issues across the globe.
AgriFutures Australia senior manager, Emerging Industries, Dr Olivia Reynolds believes this first project is a good representation of the overarching purpose of the EIT-Hub, and AgriFutures’ involvement.
‘There’s a lot of learnings on black soldier flies that could come together into an instruction manual that would help industry to refine processes and develop technologies. That speaks to our fundamental reason for existing: knowledge sharing and a collaborative approach to scientific endeavours,’ said Dr Reynolds.
Black soldier flies feed on organic waste and can be harvested within two weeks to be used as a highly nutritious animal feed. They have a short life cycle, which means they reproduce quickly and have the added benefit of producing insect frass (excrement) that can be used as a fertiliser.
The research in eastern Africa with icipe has shown that rearing insects, such as black soldier flies, for animal feed provides a high-protein feed for animals including fish, pigs and poultry. Emerging insect industries such as this have also been a point of interest for AgriFutures Australia.
‘Insects are an area where AgriFutures currently invests within the Emerging Industries Program because we’ve identified insects as an industry with high growth potential in Australia,’ said Dr Reynolds.
‘The EIT-Hub is a mechanism through which we can bring the industry together like ACIAR and icipe to exchange knowledge and ideas and to aid the growth and development of the industry.
‘And because there is a lot of common ground surrounding insects, we thought this is much bigger than Australia. And there was a clear opportunity to connect with Africa, so that is our starting point. But our goal for the EIT-Hub is to expand further across the globe.’
