Circa Biotech using Black Soldier Fly to protect natural resources, cut carbon emissions
Circa Biotech is making global headlines for letting the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) to feed on food scraps and turning it into animal and fish feed, reducing the use of fish meal in aquaculture. The fly’s refuge is also turned into organic fertilisers.
In 2022, the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment and Crica Biotech signed a key Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the first regional project to upcycle organic scraps into animal feed.
The resulting feed is high in protein, fats, minerals and vitamins. The Black Soldier Fly is an ideal choice for the project as it does not transmit diseases, does not cause any infestations or damage, and is a non-invasive species.
Upcycling food scraps into high-protein animal feed
Circa Biotech aims to tackle and improve organic aste management in urban cities, instead of dumping scraps in landfills. The company is restructuring an industrial facility, seeking to produce an annual 22,000 tonnes of animal feed to be used for different purposes.
The Black Soldier Flies used in the process are reared in an industrial control system (ICS) environment featuring sensors that record real-time temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide levels. This model ensures optimal resource use and has limited climate change impact.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Food Innovation Conference 2024 in Dubai, Dr Haythem Riahi, Co-Founder and CEO of Circa Biotech, said the company has been making notable progress in its programme for upcycling food scraps into high-protein animal feed.
