Insects for waste treatment and renewable energy generation

A native Brazilian insect species that feeds on organic waste provides an environmental solution while generating biodiesel, protein and biofertilizer.

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Imagine cultivating an insect species that feeds on organic waste and, once it reaches its optimal size, becomes a source of bio-oil, protein, and biofertilizer. This is already a reality. Natudiesel is a nature-based solution (NbS) that combines controlled diets and proprietary cultivation technologies for native insects, converting organic waste into high-value products. The insects feed on household, agricultural, and industrial organic waste and co-products, providing an efficient waste treatment service that prevents these materials from being sent to landfills.

Once they reach the ideal growth stage, the insects are processed into biodiesel with clear advantages over fossil diesel and soybean biodiesel, including higher yield, greater water efficiency, shorter production cycles, independence from arable land, and no adverse impact on food production, soils, or forests.

Beyond its environmental benefits, the Natudiesel production model has the potential to generate positive social impact. As in other agribusiness value chains, insect farming can be carried out by small-scale producers integrated into a decentralized production network, creating opportunities for income generation and regional development.

​​​Once matured, the insects are transformed into a high-quality protein source that can replace common feed ingredients like soy, corn, sorghum, and bone or blood meal. It’s natural, environmentally beneficial, and Brazil’s climate and ecosystems are ideally suited for insect farming.

​...How can lab-scale success lead to a scalable solution?

Brazil's warm biomes provide unique competitive advantages by accelerating insect growth at significantly lower cost than in colder countries, while offering abundant and diverse biomass, organic waste, and agricultural co-products. European companies have already validated the industrial cultivation of these insects under cold-climate conditions, where heating costs are substantial. Brazil starts with a clear competitive advantage.

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A practical example of the Natudiesel value chain is its application to one of the major challenges faced by hydroelectric power plants: aquatic macrophytes that proliferate in reservoirs and can damage turbines, causing significant operational losses. Natudiesel uses insects that feed on these plants, providing natural biological control. Once harvested at the ideal stage, the insects are converted into at least three value-added products: biodiesel, protein and biofertilizer.

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Hubz has already validated, at laboratory scale, a proprietary technique that uses insects for the bioconversion of organic waste. In 2022, the technology entered its scale-up phase with co-funding from CNPq. In 2023, validation of the cultivation model with small-scale producers was approved through funding from hubz, CNPq, FAPERJ and SESCOOP.

...What hubz can deliver for you?

Core Innovation

A nature-based solution (NbS) built on an environmentally sustainable production chain that cultivates insects to serve three large and expanding markets: biodiesel, protein, and biofertilizer. In line with Brazil's National Solid Waste Policy, the technology also enables the environmentally sound management of urban and agro-industrial organic waste.

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Applications and benefits

• Nature-based solution (NbS) for biodiesel, protein, and biofertilizer production
• Positive environmental impact
• Higher efficiency than conventional feedstocks, including soybeans
• No dependence on arable land
• Competitive advantage provided by Brazil's biomes
• Aligned with Brazil's National Solid Waste Policy

 

Technology readiness level

The goal is to reach TRL 7 through field testing, building on a current TRL 4 maturity level.