Insects are not only an incredible source of protein, hugely important in the future of food, feed and dealing with our growing waste streams – they can radically improve livelihoods, reduce poverty and hunger, conserve water, reduce waste, protect the oceans and foster entirely new streams of innovation.

Insects can turn a multitude of different waste streams into biomass, and they can also make municipal waste safer - reducing hormone and pharmaceutical residues and neutralising pathogens. EU regulations do not currently permit feeding this waste to an insect species defined as edible, even if the intended purpose of use is entirely different - but these regulations were conceived at a time when such uses were not realised. Now they are beginning to change.

Insect exo-skeleton’s contain Chitin - already the second most important natural polymer in the world - after celluose. Chitin has remarkable properties - from a natural fertlizer - improving plant defences and crop yields - to reducing cholesterol, producing edible films and even hypoallergenic wound closures.

But once turned into water soluble Chitosan, it’s potential uses multiply further - from bio-degradeable plastics, to biomedical and pharmaceutical, food, industrial and agricultural applications.

Finding ways to efficiently produce Chitosan biologically, without harmful chemicals, or significant energy use, is one of our key focus points, as the potential benefits are enormous.

Ant’s - nature’s industrial powerhouses.
But few realise how many Ant species are also extremely tasty, nutritious and easy to cultivate.