»InFueSekt«

Industrial insect production is often too labour-intensive, hygiene-sensitive and difficult to scale economically in small or semi-automated systems. Reproduction-related process steps are especially complex and cost-relevant, while decentralized larval rearing requires simple, robust and low-cost solutions that can use local side streams. 

The aim is a resource-efficient, hygienic and economically viable process chain linking central reproduction with decentralized rearing. Key elements are a reproduction module with intelligent feeding, a tailored complete feed for beetles, evaluation of complete or supplementary feed in larval fattening, monitoring and automation, and a scalable business and plant concept. 

Fraunhofer IVV develops the module with integrated distant feeding; Fraunhofer IME develops and tests complete feed for reproduction as well as complete or supplementary feed for larval rearing; Alpha-Protein validates the technology and business model. Key indicators include beetle survival, egg-laying rate, offspring performance, microbial quality, larval growth and transferability to other insect species. 

Expected outcomes include a validated reproduction and farm module, optimized feeding strategies for reproduction and larval rearing, and a robust basis for scale-up, licensing and decentralized deployment. The project is intended to establish the basis for a ''central reproduction - decentralized rearing'' business model as well as publications, follow-up projects and application-oriented transfer.