Fly farmer Maltento has unveiled a new laboratory at its insect breeding facility in Cape Town.

The laboratory has been built to expand Maltento’s research on insect biotechnology, and aims to position the company as a leader in the functional ingredient and sustainability space.

Lead scientist Ryan Ponquett notes that Maltento is pioneering a new petfood ingredient that holds “the promise of being undeniably better, far more sustainable and scientifically superior for our pets and the planet”.

This follows a positive trial for Maltento’s PALATE+ product in the US market.

“Our product development continues to accelerate at unprecedented levels, and we are proud to fly the South African flag so prominently in such a competitive global arena,” says commercial director Dominic Malan.

 “We started this operation in a small, dark office. Before that, Dean (Smorenburg, CEO) was breeding black soldier flies in his bathroom at home.

“Standing in a world-class laboratory, fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, is a real privilege.”

Maltento breeds black soldier flies to convert agroprocessing waste, including spent grains from the beer industry, into nutrient-dense proteins and oils for pet and aquaculture feed.

“At the moment, we are using spent brewers’ grain as feed that is ingested by fly larvae at our fly farm in Cape Town,” explains Ponquett.

“This agroprocessing waste actually enriches the larvae’s natural ability to produce functional proteins, healthy fats, and essential amino acids, making mature larvae an ideal protein substitute for the meat derivatives you find in pet food today.

“Beyond protein, soldier fly larvae also produce frass as a useful by-product through their excrement of the spent brewery grains,” says Ponquett.

“Frass also holds substantial nutritional value and serves as an excellent composted soil amendment product, capable of enhancing soil fertility, building plant immunology, promoting nutrient cycling and improving soil structure.”