Back in 2019, food waste comprised 10 percent of Singapore’s total refuse. The city generated around 820,000 tons of food waste that year.
To make a profit out of the city’s food waste, a Singaporean insect farm breeds black soldier flies which breaks down food waste and turns it into body mass which is then converted into profitable biomaterials.
According to Chua Kai-ning, chief marketing officer of Insectta, the company specialize in extracting chitosan, melanin, and probiotics from these insects.
Chitosan is used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties. The pigment melanin can be processed to conduct electricity in electronics. And lastly, Insectta uses extracted probiotics to make animal food.