Funded by Innovate UK as part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, the FeedFlow project unites a consortium of industry leaders and academic institutions. Together, they are investigating advanced technologies and the implementation of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae to enhance poultry welfare while promoting sustainability within the food manufacturing sector.
Led by Flybox, a modular insect farm company, this initiative employs the computer vision platform FLOX360. This innovative technology provides real-time data on flock welfare and delivers early warnings on potential issues. Additionally, BSF larvae offer a nutrient-rich, high-quality protein source, fortified with antimicrobial peptides.
Assessing Global Warming Potential
Furthermore, the project integrates life cycle analysis, spearheaded by Jess Callaghan from the University of Chester. This vital component assesses global warming potential, thereby helping to avoid a race to the bottom in emissions.
Emily Burton, a professor in sustainable food production at Nottingham Trent University’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, states: “Insects are an essential part of our transition from linear to circular resource use, and projects like this are accelerating insect production to commercial viability by thinking outside the box about how we can harness them to improve poultry production.”
Despite considerable advancements in production sustainability through genetic selection, the poultry industry still grapples with persistent challenges, including poor leg health, high mortality rates, and inconsistent feed conversion ratios.
Continuous Evolution
To effectively tackle these issues and maintain competitiveness against low-cost imports, UK production systems must continuously adapt. Both black soldier fly farming and artificial intelligence are emerging as key solutions to enhance poultry welfare and performance while supporting sustainability initiatives.
Moreover, Flybox’s collaboration with NTU’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences significantly strengthens this project. By utilizing fortified BSF larvae, the collaboration aims to provide a rapid nutrient boost, addressing health challenges more effectively than traditional feed interventions.
This latest study follows previous research conducted by Flybox and NTU last year, which focused on feeding BSF larvae nutritionally enhanced food waste before incorporating them into poultry feed. This research was part of a feasibility study aimed at increasing the nutritional value of chickens while significantly reducing the carbon footprint of ingredients.
