Maltento is a South African company that breeds black soldier flies to convert agro-processing waste into protein-rich pet and aquaculture feed. Their unique farming methods not only produce functional proteins, healthy fats, and essential amino acids but also excrete a by-product known as frass that has considerable nutritional value and can improve soil fertility. Maltento’s innovation and commitment to sustainability challenge preconceptions in the agri-tech and pet food industry, and their groundbreaking work highlights South Africa’s role in the global innovation landscape.
Maltento: Pioneering Sustainable Agri-Tech and Pet Food
Maltento is a South African agri-tech and pet food company that breeds black soldier flies to convert agro-processing waste into protein-rich pet and aquaculture feed. Their unique farming methods produce functional proteins, healthy fats, and essential amino acids. The fly larvae excrete a by-product known as frass that has considerable nutritional value and can improve soil fertility. Maltento’s innovation and commitment to sustainability offer a novel outlook and challenge preconceptions in the industry.
From Humble Origins to Industry Game-Changers
In the lively city of Cape Town, a surprising champion arises from the world of agri-tech and pet food. This champion is none other than a company called Maltento, who found their beginnings in the most unlikely of places – working with flies. The company’s visionary approach has seen them evolve from breeding black soldier flies in the seclusion of a home bathroom to creating a comprehensive fly farm that has shaken up the industry.
Recently, Maltento added a state-of-the-art laboratory to their breeding facility. This addition is a significant advancement for the company. It symbolizes their commitment to enhancing their insect biotechnology research and solidifying their position in the functional ingredient and sustainability sectors.
Ryan Ponquett, Maltento’s leading scientist, underscores the company’s vision to challenge the pet food industry’s conventional practices. Their groundbreaking innovation? A pioneering pet food ingredient that fuses superior scientific characteristics with unmatched sustainability. This innovation pledges a more promising future for our pets as well as the environment.
Achievements and Future Endeavors
Maltento inaugurated the new laboratory following a triumphant validation trial for their PALATE+ product in the intensely competitive US market. Commercial Director Dominic Malan views this milestone as a surge in product development. This achievement positions the South African company as a global front-runner.
Reflecting on the company’s inception, Malan retells the story of how it all began in a small, inadequately lit office. Here, CEO Dean Smorenburg initiated the breeding of black soldier flies. From these unassuming origins, standing in a fully furnished, world-class laboratory today is, in his words, “a real privilege”.
The Unique Approach and its Benefits
Maltento’s distinct method involves breeding black soldier flies to convert agro-processing waste, including spent grains from the beer industry, into protein-rich and oil-rich pet and aquaculture feed. Ponquett clarifies that the fly larvae consume the grain-based feed at the farm. This feeding process naturally augments their inherent ability to produce functional proteins, healthy fats, and essential amino acids. These mature larvae then serve as an ideal protein alternative for traditional meat derivatives found in pet food.
However, the advantages of Maltento’s innovative farming methods go beyond protein production. The soldier fly larvae also excrete a by-product known as frass, derived from the spent brewery grains. According to Ponquett, this frass possesses considerable nutritional value and makes an excellent composted soil amendment product. It holds potential to enhance soil fertility, fortify plant immunology, foster nutrient cycling, and improve soil structure.
The team at Maltento, located in Cape Town, is made up of highly qualified scientists and engineers. This team exemplifies South Africa’s esteemed innovation in the insect biotechnology field. Their pioneering work offers an appealing solution to future-proofing and localising feed ingredients, alongside a sustainable alternative to organic waste management.
Inspiring Innovation and a More Sustainable Future
Maltento’s journey of innovation and commitment represents a powerful narrative of change. It’s a story that shows how an idea that originated in a home bathroom can reshape industry standards and provide a novel outlook on sustainability. Maltento’s trailblazing work with flies emphasizes the vast potential of insect biotechnology, which, despite initial aversion, could hold the key to a more sustainable future.
By exploring the realm of fly farming, we begin to understand the potential of these tiny creatures. This understanding challenges our preconceptions and reimagines sustainability. The innovative work of the Maltento team serves as inspiration, highlighting South Africa’s significant role in the global innovation landscape. It gives us a sneak peek into the future of sustainability and functional ingredients.
What is Maltento?
Maltento is a South African agri-tech and pet food company that breeds black soldier flies to convert agro-processing waste into protein-rich pet and aquaculture feed. They also produce a by-product known as frass that has considerable nutritional value and can improve soil fertility.
What is Maltento’s innovative farming method?
Maltento’s unique farming method involves breeding black soldier flies to consume agro-processing waste, which naturally augments their inherent ability to produce functional proteins, healthy fats, and essential amino acids. The mature larvae then serve as an ideal protein alternative for traditional meat derivatives found in pet food. The soldier fly larvae also excrete a by-product known as frass, which possesses considerable nutritional value and makes an excellent composted soil amendment product.
What is the significance of Maltento’s state-of-the-art laboratory?
Maltento added a state-of-the-art laboratory to their breeding facility to enhance their insect biotechnology research and solidify their position in the functional ingredient and sustainability sectors. This addition symbolizes their commitment to innovation and sustainability.
What are Maltento’s achievements?
Maltento recently inaugurated the new laboratory following a validation trial for their PALATE+ product in the competitive US market. This achievement positions the South African company as a global front-runner in the industry.
What is the composition of Maltento’s pet and aquaculture feed?
Maltento’s pet and aquaculture feed is composed of protein-rich and oil-rich mature larvae of black soldier flies that consume agro-processing waste. This feed serves as an ideal protein alternative for traditional meat derivatives found in pet food.
What is the potential of Maltento’s by-product, frass?
Maltento’s by-product, frass, possesses considerable nutritional value and makes an excellent composted soil amendment product. It holds potential to enhance soil fertility, fortify plant immunology, foster nutrient cycling, and improve soil structure.
