Beta Hatch banks $9.3m Series A, breaks ground on US’s largest insect "ranch"

Mealworms may be the last critter that comes to mind when you hear the word ‘ranch,’ but Beta Hatch is hoping to change that perception – and a global pandemic presents the perfect opportunity. “Some of our customers have reported as much as 400% increases in demand for their product,” said Virginia Emery, founder and CEO at the Washington state startup, which supplies insect-derived protein to manufacturers of animal feed. “Food and agriculture is one of the more recession-proof industries. There have been adjustments in how we eat, but people are still eating and still care about sustainability and the supply chain,” she told AFN.Beta Hatch has built insect-rearing technology that converts organic waste directly into high-value proteins, oils, and nutrients for the poultry and aquaculture industries. It raises yellow mealworms, chosen for their ability to grow readily at scale with minimal labor. The goal is to offset some of the global demand for animal feed with a more cost-effective and eco-friendly protein source. It sells its insect protein as an ingredient to manufacturers who blend it into existing or new products...MORE

I've had some fun with this idea of an "insect ranch" before, especially when it comes to protein for human consumption. I will reshare those posts below:

From 2013;

UN Says: Why Not Eat More Insects?

The U.N. has new weapons to fight hunger, boost nutrition and reduce pollution, and they might be crawling or flying near you right now: edible insects. The Food and Agriculture Organization on Monday hailed the likes of grasshoppers, ants and other members of the insect world as an underutilized food for people, livestock and pets. A 200-page report, released at a news conference at the U.N. agency's Rome headquarters, says 2 billion people worldwide already supplement their diets with insects, which are high in protein and minerals, and have environmental benefits.  Insects are "extremely efficient" in converting feed into edible meat, the agency said. On average, they can convert 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of feed into 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of insect mass. In comparison, cattle require 8 kilograms (17.6 pounds) of feed to produce a kilo of meat. Most insects are likely to produce fewer environmentally harmful greenhouse gases, and also feed on human and food waste, compost and animal slurry, with the products being used for agricultural feed, the agency said. The agency noted that its Edible Insect Program is also examining the potential of arachnids, such as spiders and scorpions, although they are not strictly speaking insects...more

Are you ready for:

beetle barbeque

grasshopper gumbo

McMaggots

prime rib of spider

moth meatloaf 

chile con cutworm

roach roast

tarantula t-bone

caterpillar caviar

rocky mountain scorpion oysters 

fruit fly pie

Are you ready for:

insect whisperers

roach rodeos

county insect fairs 

insect food pyramid 

Purina insect feed

PETI

Finally, us poor New Mexicans will have to do without, or import all our insect goodies.  Why?  Because I'm sure Governor Martinez will oppose the slaughter of insects in our state.

From 2015:

Scientists Advocate Replacing Cattle With Insects

Scientists in the Netherlands have discovered that insects produce significantly less greenhouse gas per kilogram of meat than cattle or pigs. Their study, published in the online journal PLoS One, suggests that a move towards insect farming could result in a more sustainable - and affordable - form of meat production. The rearing of cattle and pigs for meat production results in an estimated 18 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. With worldwide consumption of beef and pork expected to double by 2020, alternatives are being investigated. Of these, perhaps the most notable has been the development of "in-vitro meat" which is lab-grown tissue not requiring the production of a whole organism. Initiated by NASA as a form of astronaut food, in-vitro meat production took its first steps in 2000 when scientists used goldfish cells to grow edible protein resembling fish fillets. Since then, turkey and pig cells have been used to create spam-like substances, and Time Magazine has included in-vitro meat in its list of the top 50 breakthrough ideas of 2009. In addition to the environmental impact of current meat production techniques, scientists believe that the inevitable increase in price as population-driven demand grows will ultimately result in traditional meat products becoming unavailable to many people around the world. However, if the idea of eating meat grown in a lab doesn't appeal to you, there is another option. Researchers at Wageningen University in the Netherlands looked at mealworms, house crickets, migratory locusts, sun beetles, and Dubia cockroaches, and for the first time quantified the amounts of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) released per kilogram of insect meat. They found that the amounts of gases released by insects to be much smaller than those released by cattle and pigs. For instance, mealworms produce between ten and a hundred times less greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram than do pigs. Ammonia levels also declined significantly...more 

Some university types and all the DC Deep Thinkers want ag producers to be early adopters and enter in to the latest management and production techniques.

Let’s analyze what this would bring us if we established an insect ranch.

We’d be way ahead on capital outlays and annual production costs:

° Instead of ropes all you need is a flyswatter

° You can brand with a toothpick

° Use thimbles for water tanks and popsicle sticks for fences

° You can trade your trailer for a matchbox, and

° Switch from bedeezers to tweezers

Like any new operation there will be challenges.  For instance, how do you preg test a Praying Mantis?

But there would be fun things too.  For instance, think of all the fun you’ll have marketing maggot meat.

I see one big drawback though:  instead of calf fries on the campfire you’ll be having grasshopper gonads on your cigarette lighter.

Finally, the experts are really big on diversification.  In addition to your insect ranch I would recommend you diversify by having…an ant farm.