Insects turning waste into value

A native Brazilian species that feeds on organic waste offers an environmental solution while generating biodiesel, high-quality protein, and biofertilizer

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Imagine cultivating a native insect that thrives on organic waste and, once it reaches the ideal size, is harvested and processed into high-value protein, bio-oil, and biofertilizer. This is already a reality.

Natuprotein is a circular solution that benefits every part of the value chain. These insects feed on organic waste from households, agriculture, and industry offering a powerful waste treatment service that diverts material from landfills.

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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.

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

A compelling use case for Natuprotein tackles a persistent challenge in hydropower plants: aquatic macrophytes, which proliferate in reservoirs and can damage turbines, leading to costly downtime. Natuprotein proposes using insects that feed on these plants as a natural form of control. Once fully grown, the insects are converted into three high-value products: biodiesel, biofertilizer, and protein-rich inputs for animal feed.

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hubz has already validated a lab-scale technique using insects for the bioconversion of organic waste. The production model can be expanded to include smallholder farmers similar to successful supply chains in cattle, poultry, swine, and aquaculture.

 

A centralized processing unit ensures product quality and market access for goods produced both in-house and by partner farmers. This effort advanced with CNPq co-funding in 2022, and by 2023 cultivation with small producers was underway, supported by hubz, CNPq, and SESCOOP.

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The next step is scaling up to pre-industrial volumes. This includes building a socially inclusive supply chain with high socioeconomic impact and obtaining regulatory approvals to commercialize the protein for use in pet food, aquaculture, and poultry industries.

 

...What hubz can deliver for you?

​Key innovation

A nature-based solution (NbS) that uses a fully sustainable supply chain to raise insects for three major and rapidly growing markets: premium protein, biodiesel, and biofertilizer. In line with Brazil’s National Solid Waste Policy, the technique enables the proper disposal and transformation of urban and agro-industrial organic waste.

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Applications and benefits

• Nature-based production of high-quality protein, biodiesel, and biofertilizer

• Sustainable animal feed inputs

• Positive environmental impact

• Highly efficient conversion of organic waste into protein biomass

• Socio-inclusive production chain

• Compliance 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.