PROTA CULTURE, LLC — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase I: In Hawaii the ever increasing freight cost for imported feed has decimated the islands onc
PROTA CULTURE, LLC — SBIR Phase I award from Department of Agriculture.
- Amount
- $88,168
- Agency
- Department of Agriculture
- Program / Phase
- SBIR · Phase I
- Solicitation
- USDA-NIFA-SBIR-003848
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- HI
- Period
- —
Description
In Hawaii the ever increasing freight cost for imported feed has decimated the islands once vibrant poultry industry. In 30 years, Hawaiis annual production of eggs has gone from 229.3 million in 1979 to less than 5.9 million in 2010 (USDA 1979, 2010). Our process farms Black Soldier Fly insects, Hermetia Illucens (BSF) to consume fresh food waste from discarded from restaurants and cafeterias. Once fully grown, these insects can be harvested daily and processed into a local, non-imported sustainable chicken feed and a press oil for biodiesel. For Hawaii a local production of poultry feed could result in a reliable and cost effective supply of eggs and chicken for human consumption, as well as a reduction in the need to utilize energy for shipment of the materials to remote locations.