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Agricultural technology firm NRGene Canada and Ile-a-la-Crosse Fish Company Inc. have validated a dedicated feed formulation that enables black soldier fly (BSF) larvae to be reared on local fish-processing by-products at semi-industrial scale.
The resulting MaxBSF™ larvae contain significant levels of marine omega-3 fatty acids, opening up new pathways for valorising perishable fishery waste into premium animal feed ingredients.
Semi-Industrial Validation in Saskatchewan
The partnership, established in January 2025, focuses on converting regional fisheries waste with limited economic utility into a commercially viable protein input. Because fish-processing by-products are high in fat and moisture, they deteriorate rapidly and present handling challenges within conventional insect-rearing systems.
To evaluate performance under controlled parameters, NRGene Canada conducted a semi-industrial trial at the North American Insect Center (NAIC) in Saskatoon. The production run processed 0.3 metric tonnes of feed comprising 50% fish-processing by-products, yielding approximately 90 kilograms of MaxBSF™ larvae. The batch achieved a wet feed conversion ratio (FCR) of approximately 3.3 across an 11-day production cycle, which included a five-day nursery phase followed by six days of grow-out.
"We set out to demonstrate that a difficult waste stream could be converted efficiently and consistently at a commercially meaningful scale," said Yossi Levi, Chief Business Officer of NRGene Canada. "The run confirmed the process scales, and the economics hold up."
Nutritional Profile and Marine Fatty Acid Enrichment
Independent testing conducted by Prairie Tide Diversified Inc., a CALA-accredited analytical laboratory based in Saskatoon, evaluated the larvae against a control group reared on standard commercial feed substrates.
The analysis revealed that larvae reared on the fish-based formulation contained several times more total omega-3 than the control group. Crucially, the fish-fed larvae tested positive for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)—marine omega-3 fatty acids that were completely absent in the standard-feed specimens.
"These results matter because conventional BSF larvae generally contain very limited levels of EPA and DHA," explained Dr Ben Gradus, Director of Product, BSF at NRGene Canada. "By incorporating fish-processing by-products into the feed, we can produce MaxBSF™ larvae that combine insect protein with valuable marine omega-3 fatty acids."
The enriched nutritional profile is slated to expand specifications for MaxBites™, NRGene Canada’s dried BSF larvae product tailored for livestock and poultry nutrition. Used as a feed supplement, the ingredient offers a functional mechanism to raise omega-3 concentrations in broiler chickens and laying hens, potentially supporting enriched commercial table eggs.
Regional Rearing Infrastructure and the Hub-and-Spoke Model
Following the successful trial run, the companies are preparing plans for a dedicated rearing facility directly in Ile-a-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan, sized to match regional by-product generation rates.
Processing by-products on-site removes the logistics costs and spoilage risks linked with hauling wet marine residues over long distances, while keeping operational revenue and employment within northern Saskatchewan fishing communities.
"Our community is proud to be at the forefront of this innovative work," said Tyler Morin, Chief Executive Officer of Ile-a-la-Crosse Fish Company. "This partnership reflects our cultural values of sustainability and way of life. Processing our by-products locally means more of the jobs, knowledge and value stay in Ile-a-la-Crosse."
Under the planned operating structure, neonates will be supplied by FairGene, NRGene Canada’s joint venture with Fairville Farming Co. located in Bassano, Alberta, which initiated BSF egg production in July 2026.
The setup demonstrates NRGene Canada’s hub-and-spoke distribution strategy, which pairs centralised reproduction facilities with modular, regional grow-out operations situated adjacent to raw feedstock supplies.
"This is a scalable model, not a one-time project," added Levi. "We take a local organic by-product, develop a dedicated feed, supply high-quality neonates from a central egg facility and establish the rearing operation close to the feedstock. Many regional by-product streams could benefit from the same approach."
