An Alberta food waste recycler has received a $6 million federal grant to build a plant to raise insects for animal feed.
Enterra Corporation of Calgary was given the funds under the federal Agri-Innovate Program. The program is part of federal policy to reduce the $49.5 billion of food wasted in Canada every year.
Enterra constructed and operates a 188,000 square foot plant equipped to raise insects for animal food or plant fertilizer.
The plant employs 65 people and recycles more than 130 tonnes of food waste a day. Food waste is collected from farms, grocery stores and food processing plants to feed the insects.
The plant raises black soldier flies, a non-invasive species, and processes them into either treats for birds, pet food, animal food or plant fertilizer. The product is shipped all over North America and Europe.
Enterra CEO and President Keith Driver said in a news release that the company is a world leader in harnessing insects to feed the world.
“Our sustainable approach of using pre-consumer food waste and upcycling the nutrients allows valuable nutrients that are often left unutilized and underutilized to be captured” for feed ingredients.
Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie Claude Bibeau said the $6 million will allow the company to launch the promising business model.
“Our government wants to reduce food waste,” she said. “We are counting on our entrepreneurs to help us get there. It is an important way to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions while helping Canadian consumers save money.”
Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]
