North American Insect Center a world-class facility focused on the circular economy
What began as a Saskatchewan government trade mission to Israel in 2018 has culminated in the 2024 grand opening of a new center in Saskatoon that is gaining global attention.
Agricultural technology firm NRGene Canada, a subsidiary of an Israeli genomics company, has opened its North American Insect Center (NAIC) in Saskatoon. The facility, developed in collaboration with Swiss technology group Bühler, transforms black soldier fly (BSF) larvae into protein for pet food and aquaculture.
The opening of NAIC shows how Saskatchewan’s international engagement efforts to attract investment into the province by global companies such as NRGene and Bühler are paying off.
The NAIC is a hub for industry players offering customer trials, workshops, training sessions and seminars around insect protein production.
Dr. Masood Rizvi, General Manager of NRGene Canada, says NAIC’s work is placing Saskatchewan on the map as the world works to address the urgent need for sustainable protein sources.
Currently, NAIC is focused on research and development of BSF larvae protein for pet food and aquaculture markets, where insect-based proteins are already sold in Canada. In aquafeed, BSF protein may be key to reducing or replacing fish meal in some diets.
While the production process is complex, the principle is straightforward. NRGene uses locally produced agricultural waste to feed BSFs, whose larvae are harvested, dried and ground into protein.
By leveraging data analysis and artificial intelligence, NRGene has optimized the flies’ development cycle, reducing the maturation period from 42 days to 37 days. Just like with poultry, the efficiency of overall production is improved by reducing the number of days it takes to get to market.
NAIC promotes a “circular economy” by using agriculture waste to create protein, putting waste products back into the food chain and contributing to environmental sustainability.
This process can provide local farmers with more value as their agriculture byproducts, which are currently exported as low-cost animal feed, are instead repurposed locally. “Instead of exporting and feeding our agricultural waste to animals across the border, we feed it to black soldier flies here, then we grow the flies and turn them into protein,” says Rizvi. “Let’s use the agricultural waste locally, avoid shipping, and process it into something more valuable.”
Dr. Rizvi emphasizes that the benefits extend beyond the agriculture sector.
“It’s a win for farmers as we create a market for agricultural waste close to home. We also create jobs and economic activity, pay local and provincial taxes, and contribute to decarbonization, which aligns with the federal government’s carbon-reduction goals.”
Why Saskatchewan is the Perfect Location for NAIC
The Saskatchewan government’s 2018 trade mission to Israel helped NRGene discover why Saskatchewan is the best place for this initiative.
During that mission, the government invited a number of companies, including those in the ag-tech sector, to meetings to learn about the province.
After a series of meetings, the company decided to open a Saskatchewan office in 2020.
Dr. Rizvi lists four main reasons for the company’s strong belief that Saskatchewan is the perfect location for this groundbreaking global initiative:
- Centrally located – Saskatchewan’s central location makes travel convenient, whether to the east or west;
- Agriculture powerhouse – Saskatchewan is a global leader in food production and exports with strong government support for all types of food production;
- Supportive ecosystem – Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority and the provincial government provide significant co-ordination and assistance to new companies; and
- Agriculture Technology Hub – Saskatchewan, home to the University of Saskatchewan and Innovation Place, the University of Regina, and Saskatchewan Polytechnic, is a world leader in agricultural technology, offering an ideal environment for NAIC to innovate and grow.
- Sustainability – Saskatchewan is one of the most sustainable jurisdictions in the world. As such, it offers the ideal environment for NAIC’s ambitions of contributing to the circular economy.
The NAIC positions Saskatchewan as a global center for insect protein production and now joins a long list of world-class facilities located in the province.
For more information, contact:
Media Relations
Trade and Export Development
Regina
Phone: 306-526-6302
Email: media.ted@gov.sk.ca