FLIES4VALUE (POR-FESR 2014-2020)

Due to the increase in the demand for animal proteins and the need to identify sources alternative to the GM soybeans imported for the production of feed, the POR-FESR FLIES4VALUE project (Insects for the bioconversion of agri-food by-products into animal feed and high added-value substances) will create an economic, efficient, competitive and low-impact system to enhance the waste of regional agri-food industries.

It will be achieved by exploiting the Hermetia illucens larvae, or Fly Soldiers (FS), i.e. bio-converting insects for the production of feed for laying hens and other substances with high benefit for the agri-food industry.
The fly soldiers will be bred on a mixture of by-products, appropriately chosen in order to maximize their growth. Both inlet (by-products) and outlet (grown larvae) biomass will be characterized and stabilised. An integrated system for mass production and functional stabilisation of FS will be fabricated, in order to make FS available for feed use. The obtained feed will provide proteins, lipids and natural pigments in order to obtain eggs with a brightly coloured yolk, as requested by the market, limiting the use of expensive artificial pigments. The parameters of hens fed with FS-based feed will be evaluated, as the properties of the eggs. By means of bio-refinery processes of the larvae biomass, high added-value protein and lipid fractions will be obtained. In order to maximize the resources exploitation in the viewpoint of circular economy, the valorisation of the organic residual produced by larval growth will be performed, as farming improver or component for bio-methane production. The environmental and socio-economic impacts of the system will be quantified in order to evaluate the regional industrial feasibility.

Partnership

Coordinator: UNIMORE, Biogest Siteia

Partners: PROAMBIENTE Scrl, Università di Bologna, CIRI AGRO, CRPV,  Università Parma, Centro Interdipartimentale sulla Sicurezza Tecnologie Innovazione Agroalimentare

Private Companies: MUTTI S.p.A., Macè Srl, Molini Pivetti S.p.A., A CasaLab Az. Agr.

Duration: June 2019 - February 2022

Funding: Overall budget = 1.111.422,28 €. Regional Contribution = 795.980,64 €. 

Link to the website: https://flies4value.it/it