A company based in the Polish region of Wielkopolskie has developed a prototype bioreactor which can turn byproducts and waste generated by the agri-food industry into valuable proteins, fats and an organic fertiliser. HiProMine’s innovation uses special varieties of insects to transform the waste into new products, which can be used in animal feeds and to boost crop growth. The marketing of ‘Bioinsec’ technology will deliver long-term benefits for the environment through reduced raw material and energy consumption.
- 26 August 2020
The grant has allowed us to put in place a number of technological solutions which require a lot of scientific work and a lot of prototyping. We are not only part of the 4R model (recycle, reduce, repair and reuse) – but also of something which is becoming increasingly important: industrial symbiosis.
The project received support from the European Regional Development Fund. The investment helped pay for the equipment and the industrial research required to build and test a laboratory-based prototype bioreactor.
World first
All the project technology is consistent with the 4R system for industrial sustainability – recycle, reduce, repair and reuse. The use of insects enables efficient and fast conversion of low-quality raw materials and waste to high-quality biomass. The prototype is the world’s first bioreactor to combine three technologies: intelligent metabolic energy harvesting, fermented liquid feed and thermal hygienisation systems.
The project led to nine additional research jobs at HiProMine. New posts were created for technicians, a laboratory analyst, a big data analyst and managers responsible for the three areas of innovative technologies. Initial products developed from the new process include a fertiliser in the form of pellets, made from insects, which is sold to producers of herbal cannabis. In addition, protein extracts and fats are being used to feed livestock and fish.
Commercialising research
HiProMine is a spin-off company created through BridgeAlfa – an ERDF co-financed programme for commercialising scientific research in Poland. The company specialises in providing innovative technologies relating to insect farming. It makes premium products such as protein meal, pulp, pellets and natural fertilisers – all produced from insects. The company provides larvae to the food and agricultural sectors.
HiProMine is involved in other EU-funded research projects, including: InnSecta which explores innovative technologies for feedstuff production based on insect biomass; and EntoWaste which looks into ways of processing waste as feed for insects, technologies for insect breeding and rearing, and insect processing for the food and feed industries.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Development of Bioinsec technology in HiProMine S.A. company” is EUR 1 826 532 (PLN 8 309 068), with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 1 243 809 (PLN 5 658 480) through the “Wielkopolskie Voivodeship” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Research and innovation”.