Insects as a solution to food waste and a new farm “crop” with Pat Crowley of Chapul Farms in Oregon

“Get your fresh local insects, and frass too!” If Pat Crowley had his way, insects and their byproducts (most notably frass used as fertilizer) would take their place alongside vegetables and flowers as profitable enterprises for local farms. And the best part is, they are fed on a widely-available byproduct: some of the 100 million tons of food waste that is currently going into landfills in the United States.

Pat is the founder and CEO of Chapul Farms, which designs, builds and operates insect farms, having featured on Shark Tank in 2014. If you saw that episode, the company has changed a lot since then, changing their focus from raising crickets to raising black soldier fly larvae (a protein source for other animals) and their frass, i.e. the excrement and exoskeletons of the flies that can be used as fertilizer. This interview with host Katie Kulla is fascinating both for the insect’s potential as a new farm product, as well as learning how Chapul Farms has raised funds, including the regenerative funding platform where they raised $2 million in an hour.

 

Connect With Guest:

Instagram: @chapulinnovationcenter
Website: chapulfarms.com

 

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