Tulani Ngwenya
Cape Town, South Africa – Maltento, an award-winning Black Soldier Fly factory based in Cape Town, is making waves in South Africa’s recycling landscape by transforming agro-processing waste, particularly spent grains from the beer industry, into high-performance proteins and oils for pet and aquaculture feed.
Under the direction of CEO Dean Smorenburg, Maltento’s creative strategy highlights South Africa’s expertise in insect biotechnology and sustainability practices. The factory’s unique process involves feeding spent brewers’ grain to Black Soldier Fly larvae, enhancing their ability to produce functional proteins, healthy fats, and essential amino acids.
The factory currently diverts about 400,000 kg of agro-processing waste per month, with plans to increase to 600,000 kg per month by year’s end, according to Jaysen Golding, Maltento’s new COO. Golding highlights the closed-loop system that is made possible by the larvae’s digestion process producing frass, a nutrient-rich byproduct. Frass serves as a composted soil amendment product, promoting soil fertility, nutrient cycling, and healthy grain growth without the use of heavy metals or pesticides.
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Black Soldier Fly factory recycles agro-processing waste
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“Maltento’s innovative approach not only revolutionises the pet food and beer industries but also positions South African scientists as global leaders in agro-processing and sustainability practices,” stated Smorenburg. He highlighted the factory’s commitment to sustainability, aiming to reintroduce approximately 1,444 metric tonnes of frass into South African soil by the end of the year.
With 65 employees at the 7,000 m2 factory in Cape Town, Maltento has already produced 75 metric tonnes of product since its inception and aims to reach 100 metric tonnes by June 2024. The company calls on large-scale breweries across the country to join its vision for improved agricultural practices within the beer sector and contribute to a more sustainable industry.
Rich in functional proteins, fats, and essential nutrients, Maltento’s use of Black Soldier Fly larvae offers a sustainable and nutrient-dense alternative to traditional feed sources. By repurposing recycled waste from the beer-making process, Maltento’s innovative solution promotes environmental friendliness and economic viability.
The company plans to make frass available to local communities in Khayelitsha and the Cape Flats in February 2024 and is willing to donate frass to interested parties in the City of Cape Town to showcase the potential of this regenerative by-product.
Maltento’s groundbreaking initiatives underscore South Africa’s commitment to sustainable development and innovation in the agro-processing sector, setting a new standard for environmentally conscious practices in the brewing industry.
