INTERVIEW F&A Alternative Proteins Edition October 2023 23 About Yuval Gilad Yuval Gilad obtained a Master of Science (MSc) in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the Weizmann Institute of Science before graduating with a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics. After working for a number of years as a Postdoctoral Researcher and Scientific Consultant, he co-founded FreezeM in 2018 alongside Idan Alyagor and Yoav Politi, fellow Weizmann graduates. Since co-founding FreezeM five years ago, he has worked alongside a team of enthusiastic scientists and innovators to develop the company’s revolutionary biotechnology centred on the Black Soldier Fly helping to increase alternative protein production capacity for livestock. ficiency, we're initiating large-scale tests, comparing BSF-Titan's KPIs against the wild-type line. Alongside these trials, we're navigating the regulatory approval process. Our objective is to introduce BSF-Titan to the market in 2024. How can insects be produced on an industrial scale to fulfil existing demand, and how does FreezeM’s suspended neonate solution fit into this? The utility and advantages of BSF as a sustainable resource for animal feed and agricultural applications are well-established. For feed manufacturers to truly embrace insect protein, three key parameters need alignment: (i) Scale: mass production of insects (ii) Price: competitive price of insect protein (iii) Stability: reliable and consistent production The comprehensive approach taken by first-generation insect protein enterprises faces a notable challenge. Scaling up amidst the multifaceted issues of this emerging supply chain is daunting. Simultaneously, excelling in diverse areas like waste management, insect breeding, rearing, processing, energy efficiency, and operational perfection is a tall order. Recognizing that no single entity can master all these facets, the insect-farming sector, similar to other industries, is transitioning into a phase marked by collaboration and specialization. Firms are forming partnerships built on expertise and niche capabilities. FreezeM addresses a critical bottleneck within this industry with its state-of-the-art breeding technologies. Our solution bypasses the inconsistent and inefficient breeding processes typical of BSF. With FreezeM as a breeding ally, insect protein producers can sidestep the persistent complexities and expenses of colony establishment. Instead, they can benefit from our PauseM® solution — a ready-to-use, suspended neonate with an extended shelf-life and superior efficiency. Using PauseM® eliminates the need for maintaining a fly colony altogether. Clients receive a steady supply of high-grade neonates weekly, enabling them to elevate their operational efficiency and expedite scaling. To wrap up: What message would you like to convey to our readers? From its inception, FreezeM was driven by a profound aspiration: to make an impact on the global food ecosystem through the promise of insect farming. It's a large endeavour, incorporating multiple domains of expertise. Collaborations that fuse the expertise of domain specialists with an innovative spirit are imperative to realize this vision and deliver tangible, operational outcomes. We stand as proof of this paradigm. At FreezeM, we harness our deep-rooted understanding of insect breeding and couple it with groundbreaking solutions that transition smoothly from concept to execution. We are here to democratize access to the promising world of insect farming, inviting forward-thinkers to be part of this revolution. We continually seek to align with partners who resonate with our ethos, eagerly inviting them to co-create the next chapter in the global food narrative.
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