INTERVIEW F&A Alternative Proteins Edition October 2023 19 Can you offer our readers an introduction to FreezeM? Please clarify what sets your undoubtedly scientific breakthrough of insect-suspension-animation, apart as a genuine game changer, in the established insect protein industry? Since our foundation in 2018 as a spin-off from the Weizmann Institute of Science, with a team of three PhD students specialized in insect developmental biology and molecular genetics, we at FreezeM have focused on coming up with a technology that will revolutionize the insect protein industry and let the promise of – ‘insect-protein as a highly nutritional and sustainable feed for livestock’ – become a reality. We pinpointed the Insect Breeding stage as the most challenging phase for producers due to its inherent instability and unpredictability. As a stage, it requires a lot of multidisciplinary expertise (biology, entomology, genetics, engineering) and can create a great deal of hassle for producers. The challenge lies in taking flies out of their natural habitat and turning them into new farm animals with optimal reproduction to support large-scale farming. Within the insect-protein industry, the globally found Black Soldier Fly (BSF) species has the highest potential to become a sustainable alternative protein at scale. There are already numerous established BSF production factories, as well as many newcomers to the industry with interest in the potential of the BSF protein market. Building on this insight, we pioneered our patent-pending 'Suspended Animation' technology that is commercialized under the product name PauseM®. This technology is centred on Black Soldier Fly (BSF) young larvae immediately after they hatch (known as neonates) – a development that no other company has achieved. Our technology is disruptive to the insect farming industry in the sense that it changes the supply chain by decoupling the breeding stage from the rearing and processing stages. At the same time, our innovation conforms with the most important sustainability goals of salvaging scarce farmland, decreasing ocean exhaustion, and repurposing organic waste. Sounds promising, but how can your technology translate into an actual working solution? And more specifically, what makes it such a revolutionizing breakthrough to the insect protein market? PauseM® is revolutionizing the insect protein market by streamlining and stabilizing the breeding process for producers. PauseM® is a suspended BSF neonates’ package, allowing for long-distance transportation and hence replacing the traditional breeding unit in an insect-protein factory. PauseM® is delivered on a weekly basis, becoming the producer’s ‘Breeding in-a-box’.
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