Dean Smorenburg (2005B) is the founder of the  Maltento Farm  which farm fly larvae that feed on food waste to produce fertilizer and protein that can be used for pet foods.

Taken from their website: Inspired by insects, Maltento creates clean, traceable, consistent, functional-plus nutrition solutions for the future. Our approach is regenerative: we minimise our impact on scarce natural resources and maximise the use of natural, traceable co-products from agroprocessing industries to restore the balance of our precious planet.

We develop clean, consistent, functional compounds and ingredients that outperform current protein inclusions. By unlocking the functional benefits of insects through biotechnology, we can create functional-plus feed solutions, beyond just protein options that are better for our animals, soils and precious planet. The potential is to maximise natural functional compounds, that have never been exposed to anti-biotics and growth hormones, to assist with key issues such as allergies, inflammation and gut health. Moreover, we work in a regenerative way with minimal impact on our earth’s natural resources.

Research and Development are essential facets of our business. Our product development experts are eager to explore how we can partner with you and your team to improve the efficacy of your feed portfolio and add to your sustainability index. We currently work with animal feed producers, pet companies and agriculturalists on functional compounds that cater to all seasonal, physiological, performance and sustainability requirements, per animal type. We also welcome and support academic trials.

BBC recently published an article on Dean and Meltento. Photographer Tommy Trenchard visited a fly farm in Cape Town, South Africa, that is hoping to benefit.

Read the full story HERE