Environment

'Fly soldiers' to fight climate crisis

Tunis, Oct 16 (EFE) .- (Camera: Natalia Román) Although it may sound like science fiction, insects already have a role in fighting climate change, food insecurity and food waste, but they have also become a buoyant business that attracts more and more investors.The French-Tunisian start-up Netxprotein produces powdered proteins from fly larvae intended for animal food, mainly for pets or fish, a sustainable alternative to other products such as soybeans and fish meal.FOOTAGE OF NEXTPROTEIN IN TUNIS.SOUNDBITES OF SYRINE CHAALALA AND MOHAMED GASTLI, CO-FOUNDERS OF NEXTPROTEIN. Translation: Chaalala: "With 100 square meters of insect production, we can produce the same amount of proteins as 100 hectares of a soybean field. It is a capacity 10,000 times more important. Every day we collect the eggs, whereas with soy that's done once or twice a year if the weather allows it. On the other hand, we don't have that problem because we have a controlled environment." Gastli: "What we do is that the insect eats human food waste and from there we produce two products: protein flour and oil for animal food, in the form of salmon croquettes, fruits or bars, croquettes for dogs ... Then everything that the insect has eaten in addition to its excrement is a fertilizer, certified bio."