March 2, 2016

Intrexon Corp. announced that it has entered into a joint venture agreement with Darling Ingredients, the largest publicly traded developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients in the world, for the industrial-scale production of non-pathogenic black soldier fly (BSF) larvae for use as a protein source in animal feed.

Additionally, Intrexon has announced the acquisition of EnviroFlight LLC, a developer of proprietary technologies for the raising of BSF larvae on a commercial scale.

"Current trends in human population growth drive increased demand for protein supply in food production, and we believe that BSF larvae provide the potential to revolutionize the animal feed industries," commented Corey Huck, Senior Vice President and Head of Intrexon's Food Sector in a company statement. “…we look forward to employing EnviroFlight's platform to create high-nutrition, low environmental impact animal and fish feed as well as fertilizer products."

Particularly in the case of fish and poultry, which are natural insectivores, larvae poses a more natural source of protein than soymeal or other plant-based feed components, while insect larvae also provides a greater ability to meet the growing demand for protein in the face of the static supply of plant-based sources, or the environmentally damaging practice of source protein from wild-caught fish.

"Black Soldier Fly larvae meal may represent a very useful ingredient in aquaculture and importantly it has no impact on the marine ecosystem," stated Rick Barrows, Ph.D., Research Physiologist for Agricultural Research Service in the United States Department of Agriculture.

Relying on this new approach to animal feed protein, which is environmentally friendly, toxin-free, sustainable, and high nutritious, could have a significant disruption and benefit to the $60 billion global animal feed industry.

EuroFlight has been working in collaboration with Darling Ingredients since 2014 with the goal of refining its processes for commercially scalable production of BSF larvae. Darling’s expertise in reclaiming sustainable feedstocks and repurposing inedible ingredients into valuable feed sources combined with EuroFlight’s larvae production methods will result in the two companies standardizing the production of BSF-based feed. To reach this goal, the joint venture is planning to begin construction of a commercial plant this year with a view toward global expansion.