91快色

It鈥檚 not quite the crunchy critter corn on the menu at this year鈥檚 91快色 Stampede, but insects are still on the table. Just not in the way most people might think.

Rather than becoming food themselves, some insects could help transform the way food is produced. It鈥檚 an idea that lies at the heart of insect farming, which applies familiar livestock principles to insects raised in controlled environments for specific use.

鈥淚nsect farming is similar in principle to poultry or fish farming. You are essentially breeding them at scale in a controlled environment,鈥� says , MSc'18, PhD'24, a research assistant with the and sessional instructor in the . 

鈥淟ike other forms of livestock production, the goal is to harness a resource 鈥� most often protein. And insects are a surprisingly rich and sustainable source.鈥�

Insect farming is a form of circular food production that uses insects to consume organic waste and convert it into valuable resources that support agriculture and soil health.

In other words: Let small critters handle a big problem.

The black soldier fly

Much of has focused on the black soldier fly (BSF). BSF larvae are valued because they are 鈥減rolific鈥� consumers of organic waste, including agricultural leftovers, poultry waste and household organic materials. 

The real opportunity, however, lies in what they leave behind. 

Chineme says insect farming produces two distinct, valuable products that help 鈥渃lose the loop鈥� in a food system.

First, they serve as a sustainable alternative to traditional livestock protein. The larvae can be harvested for their high protein content, serving as a substitute for traditional feeds. This reduces the amount of land needed to grow crops specifically for livestock. 

The larvae are suitable for feeding poultry, pigs and fish. They also provide an alternative protein source for pets, including reptiles such as geckos and lizards.

Second, BSF larvae produce nutrient-rich compost, otherwise known as frass. Chineme鈥檚 research notes that the waste produced by the larvae, combined with their shed exoskeletons, creates a superior compost. 

A key detail is the presence of chitin, a nutrient found in the exoskeletons that makes plants more resilient to infestations and diseases, allowing a shift away from chemical-based fertilizers.

鈥淲hen you introduce insect farming and other closed-loop systems, people can move beyond relying solely on artificial fertilizers,鈥� says Chineme.

鈥淭hey can see how regenerative practices can deliver the yields they're looking for while also helping them adopt more sustainable and environmentally conscious approaches.鈥�

Closed Loop YYC

This research is part of a larger body of work under the initiative supported by a , which is focused on closing the loop in food systems by taking bio-waste 鈥� including agricultural, production and consumer waste 鈥� and reintegrating it into the agricultural process. The circular model ensures that waste at the end of the food chain becomes the input for new production.

Building more resilient urban food systems

While commercial-scale BSF farming is already exporting larvae internationally from provinces across Canada, including Alberta, Chineme is focused on making it accessible to every-day citizens.

She suggests that community gardens and farms could diversify their nutritional produce and support others in their communities by supplying BSF larvae to residents who keep backyard chickens or pet owners or using them on their own tracts of land.

And, Chineme says, by decentralizing insect farming into community gardens, cities can build better food resilience. It allows local food systems to better withstand external shocks such as supply chain disruptions because they are producing their own protein and fertilizer on-site.

Chineme also believes that integrating insect farming into urban gardens allows residents to experience the full cycle of food production and waste recycling, which fosters a deeper connection to their food.

鈥淗aving people experience that cycle, from waste to getting insects to feeding the chickens to using the compost 鈥� that entire cycle allows people to better get back to their roots,鈥� she says.

This approach also benefits marginalized communities that are often on the cusp of food insecurity, and can instead build social equity and food resilience against external economic or environmental shocks.

鈥淚t's actually growing food that people need within our own city, with the people who need it,鈥� says Chineme.